Meaning and Usage
"それぞれ" means "each," "every," or "respectively," and it is used to refer to individual members or items within a group, emphasizing their distinctness or individuality.
Common Contexts
It often appears when talking about people, objects, or situations where individual differences or actions are highlighted. For example, "学生はそれぞれ自分の意見を発表した" shows that each student expressed their own opinion.
Collocations and Patterns
- それぞれの + noun: emphasizes individuality or possession (e.g., それぞれの意見 - each opinion)
- それぞれに + verb: indicates actions done individually (e.g., それぞれに対応する - respond to each)
- それぞれ違う: highlights differences among items or people
Register and Politeness
"それぞれ" is neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "それぞれ" with "みんな" (everyone). Remember, "それぞれ" focuses on individuals separately, while "みんな" refers to the group collectively.