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.
[Noun] + につき
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
• 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'.
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.
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.
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.
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