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JLPT N3Formal Expressions

～につき— Per / Owing To (Formal Notice)

A formal expression with two uses: (1) 'per / for each', stating a rate or unit; and (2) 'owing to / because of', giving a reason in stiff notice-style language. The reason use is characteristic of signs and official announcements. Rarely used in casual conversation.

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Pro lessonUNIT 72 · FORMAL EXPRESSIONS

Structure · 形

[Noun] + につき

Examples · 例文

  • 一人につき二枚まで購入できます。

    Hitori ni tsuki nimai made kounyuu dekimasu.

    You may purchase up to two per person.

    Rate use: 一人 (per person) + につき

  • 本日は祝日につき、休業いたします。

    Honjitsu wa shukujitsu ni tsuki, kyuugyou itashimasu.

    As today is a holiday, we are closed.

    Reason use: 祝日 + につき in a formal notice

  • 工事中につき、通行止めです。

    Koujichuu ni tsuki, tsuukoudome desu.

    Owing to construction, the road is closed.

    Sign-style reason: 工事中 + につき

Usage notes · 注意

  • Rate meaning ('per') is neutral; reason meaning ('owing to') is very formal, sign/notice style.
  • The reason use only attaches to nouns, not full verb clauses.
  • Do not confuse with について ('about') — につき has no 'い'.

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ～につき is tested against.

vsについて

について means 'about / concerning' a topic; につき means 'per (a rate)' or 'owing to (a reason)' — completely different meanings despite the similar look.

vsため

ため also gives a reason but is broader and can follow verb clauses; につき (reason) is stiff, noun-only, and typical of formal notices.

More formal expressions

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