相次ぐ

• Reading: あいつぐ
• Romaji: aitsugu
• Kanji breakdown: 相 (sō/ai) — mutual, together; 次 (ji/tsu) — next, follow
• Pronunciation: /a.i.t͡sɯ.ɡɯ/

Meaning

To follow in succession; to happen one after another. Describes events occurring in rapid sequence.

A Group 1 (godan) intransitive verb commonly used in news and formal writing to describe a series of similar incidents. Frequently appears in the te-form 相次いで as an adverbial meaning one after another. Often collocates with accidents, scandals, and disasters.

Examples

1. 最近、大きな地震が相次いでいる。 Major earthquakes have been occurring one after another recently.
2. 企業の不祥事が相次いで報道された。 Corporate scandals were reported one after another.
3. 辞任が相次ぎ、組織は混乱した。 Resignations came in rapid succession, throwing the organization into chaos.

Usage Guide

Context: news, reports, formal writing

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Compound of 相 (mutual, together) and 次ぐ (to follow, to be next). Literally means to follow one another mutually, describing events lining up in sequence.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal