～につけ

• Reading: につけ
• Romaji: ni tsuke
• Formation: Verb dictionary form + につけ / Noun + につけ

Meaning

A conjunction meaning 'whenever' or 'each time.' It indicates that every time the speaker perceives or encounters something, a particular feeling or thought arises.

につけ expresses a recurring emotional or psychological response triggered by a perception or experience. It is most commonly used in the paired pattern AにつけBにつけ (whether A or B), meaning 'in any case' or 'no matter whether A or B.' Common fixed expressions include 見るにつけ聞くにつけ (whenever I see or hear) and 何かにつけ (at every occasion). The pattern has a reflective, somewhat literary quality and often introduces nostalgic, sympathetic, or evaluative feelings. It differs from たびに (every time), which is more neutral and factual, while につけ emphasizes the emotional response triggered by each encounter. It appears in both written and spoken Japanese but is more characteristic of thoughtful or formal expression.

Examples

1. 故郷の風景を見るにつけ、幼い頃の記憶がよみがえる。 Whenever I see the scenery of my hometown, memories of my childhood come flooding back.
2. 彼の活躍を聞くにつけ、自分も頑張らねばと思う。 Each time I hear of his accomplishments, I feel I must also do my best.
3. 良きにつけ悪しきにつけ、あの経験は今の自分を形作っている。 For better or worse, that experience has shaped who I am today.

Usage Guide

Context: written, spoken, reflective

Tone: reflective

Do Say

• 古い写真を見るにつけ、あの頃に戻りたいと感じる。
• 嬉しいにつけ悲しいにつけ、まず連絡をくれるのが彼女だ。
• 後輩の成長を見るにつけ、指導の甲斐があったと感じる。

Don't Say

• 電車に乗るにつけ、本を読む。(Using につけ for a habitual neutral action — it requires an emotional or evaluative response, not a routine behavior) → 満員電車に乗るにつけ、地方の暮らしが恋しくなる。
• 雨が降るにつけ傘をさす。(Using につけ for a mechanical cause-and-effect — たびに is appropriate for neutral habitual actions) → 雨が降るにつけ、あの日の出来事を思い出す。

Origin & History

From the classical verb つく (to attach/be associated with) in its conjunctive form. につけ literally means 'attached to' or 'in connection with,' expressing that each encounter with something brings an associated feeling.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal