The core meaning
工事中につき、通行できません means passage is blocked because construction is underway. 入場は一人につき一枚 means one ticket per person. These are two common uses in public notices. Both are compact and formal, so a sign can present the necessary information without a full conversational explanation. The surrounding nouns and numbers tell you which use is intended.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 工事中につき、こちらは通れません。 | Kōjichū ni tsuki, kochira wa tōremasen. | This way is closed due to construction. |
| 定休日につき、本日は休業します。 | Teikyūbi ni tsuki, honjitsu wa kyūgyō shimasu. | We are closed today for our regular day off. |
How to form it
For a reason, attach につき to a noun or noun-like state: 工事中につき, 定休日につき. Then state the rule or consequence. For a rate, use a unit noun + につき + amount: 一人につき一枚, 一時間につき千円. The reading is につき, not について, and the meanings differ.
| Use | Japanese form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Reason | 工事中につき | Due to construction |
| Per person | 一人につき一枚 | One per person |
| Per hour | 一時間につき千円 | 1,000 yen per hour |
Natural examples
Read each sentence for the relationship between the first idea and the second. The English translation gives a natural meaning, while the Japanese wording shows exactly where the pattern attaches.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 入場券は一人につき一枚必要です。 | Nyūjōken wa hitori ni tsuki ichimai hitsuyō desu. | Each person needs one admission ticket. |
| 駐車料金は一時間につき五百円です。 | Chūsha ryōkin wa ichi-jikan ni tsuki gohyaku en desu. | Parking costs 500 yen per hour. |
Compare the nearby pattern
工事中なので入れません is a natural spoken explanation. 工事中につき立入禁止 is a sign-style notice. 一人あたり五百円 and 一人につき五百円 both express a per-person amount, but the latter fits formal rules, fees and instructions.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 工事中なので、通れません。 | Kōjichū na node, tōremasen. | You cannot pass because construction is underway. |
| 工事中につき、通行止めです。 | Kōjichū ni tsuki, tsūkōdome desu. | Road closed due to construction. |
The two examples may describe similar situations, but they lead the listener to different conclusions. Choose the form that matches the claim you really intend to make.
Common mistake to avoid
Do not interpret every につき as 'because'. If a number follows a counting unit, check for a rate: 一個につき百円 means 100 yen per item. Conversely, 工事中につき is giving a reason, not a price.
- Can give a formal reason
- Can mark a per-unit amount
- Attaches to a noun or unit
- Common on signs and in rules
Try it yourself
Write two short notices: one closure with a reason and one fee per person or hour. Use につき in both and verify that a reader can tell which meaning applies.
Say your sentence once slowly while looking at the Japanese pattern. Then say it again without reading. If your second clause changes from a possibility to a fact, or from advice to a requirement, revise it so the grammar still matches your meaning.