次々

つぎつぎ

in succession, one by one

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"次々" (つぎつぎ) means "one after another" or "in succession." It is used to describe events, actions, or things happening continuously or sequentially without interruption.

Common Contexts

You often see "次々" used when talking about multiple items, events, or actions occurring one after the other, such as products arriving, questions being answered, or problems arising.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 次々と + verb: emphasizes a continuous sequence of actions or events.
  • 次々に + verb: similar to 次々と, often interchangeable.

Register and Nuance

"次々" is neutral and commonly used in both spoken and written Japanese. It conveys a smooth flow of events without pause.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse "次々" with "どんどん," which also means "rapidly" or "one after another." "どんどん" often implies a faster pace or increasing intensity, while "次々" focuses on the sequence without necessarily implying speed.

Example Sentences

あたらしいしょうひんがつぎつぎとみせにならんだ。

New products were lined up in the store one after another.

かれはつぎつぎにしつもんにこたえた。

He answered the questions one by one.

つぎつぎと もんだいがおこって、たいおうがたいへんだった。

Problems arose one after another, and it was hard to deal with them.