一個(いっこ)ずつ

一個(いっこ)ずつ means 'one at a time' or 'one each,' using the versatile counter 個(こ) for small, discrete objects.

Common patterns

Part of the ～ずつ pattern, which attaches to a quantity to mean 'each' or 'at a time.' The same structure works with other counters:

• 一人(ひとり)ずつ (one person at a time)
• 一枚(いちまい)ずつ (one sheet at a time)
• 一本(いっぽん)ずつ (one [long object] at a time)
• 少(すこ)しずつ (little by little)

Usage

• Very common in everyday speech because 個(こ) is a general-purpose counter for small objects
• Often used for distributing items: お菓子(かし)を一個(いっこ)ずつ配(くば)る (hand out sweets one each)
• Also used for doing things methodically: 問題(もんだい)を一個(いっこ)ずつ解(と)く (solve problems one at a time)