～につき

• Reading: につき
• Romaji: ni tsuki
• Formation: Noun + につき

Meaning

Expresses a rate or ratio (meaning 'per'), or provides a formal reason or cause. Commonly seen on signs, notices, and in official documents.

This compound particle has two main uses. First, it expresses a rate or ratio, similar to 'per' in English, and is commonly seen on store signs, event notices, and in formal documents. Second, it provides a formal reason or cause, similar to ので or から but in a much more formal register. The rate usage is more common in everyday encounters, while the reason usage appears in business correspondence and official announcements. Learners should note that につき is significantly more formal than everyday alternatives and sounds unnatural in casual speech.

Examples

1. 一人につき三枚までチケットを購入できます。 You can purchase up to three tickets per person.
2. 工事中につき通行止めです。 The road is closed due to construction.
3. 本日は定休日につき営業しておりません。 We are not open today due to our regular closing day.

Usage Guide

Context: written, signs, notices, business

Tone: official

Do Say

• お一人様につき一品限りとなっております。
• 悪天候につき本日の試合は中止です。
• 一日につき三回薬を飲んでください。

Don't Say

• 一人につき三枚までチケットを購入できるよ。(Mixing formal につき with casual sentence ending よ — register mismatch) → 一人につき三枚までチケットを購入できます。
• 疲れたにつき帰ります。(Using につき after an adjective — につき follows nouns only) → 疲れたので帰ります。

Origin & History

Compound of に and つき (continuative form of 付く, to attach). Used primarily in formal written Japanese for expressing rates and reasons.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal