Time and sequence

～ぶり

after an interval of; the way of; manner

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How to form it

  • Time expression + ぶり(に)
  • Noun / Verb (ます-stem) + ぶり

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Explanation

With a time expression it means that something happens for the first time in that long. With a noun or verb stem it describes the manner or style of doing something.

With time: 久しぶり (it's been a while), 三年ぶり (first in three years). With manner: 仕事ぶり (way of working).

Examples

  1. 久しぶりに、友達に会った。

    ひさしぶりに、ともだちにあった。

    I met my friend for the first time in a while.

  2. 三年ぶりに、日本に帰ってきた。

    さんねんぶりに、にほんにかえってきた。

    I returned to Japan for the first time in three years.

  3. 彼の仕事ぶりは、とても真面目だ。

    かれのしごとぶりは、とてもまじめだ。

    His way of working is very diligent.

Compare with

  • ～きり: きり says nothing has happened since; ぶり says something happens again after an interval.

Common mistakes

  • Using ぶり with a period that is not a time length.