ぶりに

ぶりに means for the first time in (a period of time) ~. It is a JLPT N3 grammar pattern used to describe doing something again after a long time.

This grammar point often appears in neutral Japanese. If you want to express that an action happened again after a significant gap, ぶりに is a useful pattern to learn.

What does ぶりに mean?

Use ぶりに when you want to describe doing something again after a long time.

Natural translations include:

• for the first time in (period of time) ~
• for the first time in (a period of time) ~
• for the first time in (period of time)

How to form ぶりに

Period of time + ぶりに / Noun + ぶりに (e.g., 久しぶりに)

Examples of the pattern:

• 三年ぶりに
• 一ヶ月ぶりに
• 久しぶりに

When is ぶりに used?

Use ぶりに in situations like:

• reunions
• revisiting places
• picking up old hobbies

Tone and register:

• neutral
• Common in reunions, test questions, and written narratives

ぶりに example sentences

• 三年ぶりに故郷に帰った。 — I went back to my hometown for the first time in three years.
• 久しぶりに映画館に行った。 — I went to a movie theater for the first time in a long while.
• 彼とは一ヶ月ぶりに会った。 — I met him for the first time in a month.
• 十年ぶりにピアノを弾いた。 — I played piano for the first time in ten years.
• 高校卒業以来、五年ぶりに会う友人。 — A friend I am meeting for the first time in five years since high school graduation.

Nuance of ぶりに

The key nuance is carries a sense of nostalgia, freshness, or emotional weight because of the gap in time.

This matters because 〜ぶりに emphasizes the length of the gap. It is often used to highlight how much has changed or how good it feels to do something again.

For example:

• In reunions, it sounds natural and specific.
• Compared with 以来, it carries a different weight and implication.

ぶりに vs 以来

Both ぶりに and 以来 can express for the first time in (a period of time) ~, but they are different.

ぶりに:

• means for the first time in; implies a return after a gap, often emotional

以来:

• means since; marks a starting point for a continuous state without implying repetition

Quick contrast examples:

• 高校以来、会っていない。 — I haven’t seen them since high school.
• 高校ぶりに会った。 — I met them for the first time since high school.

Common mistakes with ぶりに

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Using it without a time expression (needs a duration, like 三年 or 久し)
• Confusing it with 以来 (since) which is about continuous states, not returning
• Adding に after ぶり twice (correct: 三年ぶりに, not 三年ぶりにに)

Is ぶりに on the JLPT?

Yes. ぶりに is commonly taught as JLPT N3 grammar.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize it in reading
• understand its nuance in context
• use it in simple original sentences

Practice questions for ぶりに

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

• Say you went to the gym for the first time in a month.
• Describe meeting a friend after a long time.
• Say you cooked your favorite dish after many years.

Learning path for ぶりに

To learn ぶりに efficiently, review basic time connectors first, then focus on whether the action happens before, during, immediately after, or while something is still true.

1. First, make sure you can form ぶりに without looking at the pattern chart.
2. Next, compare it with 上で（うえで）, たとたん. These patterns are close enough that choosing between them helps you understand the nuance.
3. Finally, write short narratives where timing changes the meaning; then check whether replacing ぶりに with たて changes the meaning.

Related grammar to review next

• 上で（うえで） — because it helps you contrast timing, sequence, and “when” clauses.
• たとたん — because it helps you contrast timing, sequence, and “when” clauses.
• たて — because it helps you contrast timing, sequence, and “when” clauses.
• うちに — because it helps you contrast timing, sequence, and “when” clauses.

Learn ぶりに with Hane

If you want to review ぶりに together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you connect grammar, kanji, and vocabulary in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:

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