ずつ meaning

[letslearn]

Hi guys just a quick one.
My dictionary says ずつ means apiece,each,at a time.

Does this make the translation of....

この病院には、火事のとき閉まるドアが１階に１つずつ ありました。

The hospital's fire doors on the first floor should have shut one at a time ?

よろしくお願いします

 

[Toritoribe]

The core of the sentence is この病院に（は）ドアがありました. 閉まる is not the main verb of the sentence.

１階 would mean 一つの階, not "the first floor".

 

[letslearn]

So it's more like
In the hospital, there is a fire door on each floor.

 

[Toritoribe]

Yes, that's what the sentence means.
Just for your practice, what is the literal translation?

 

[letslearn]

I would be,

この病院には、 In this Hospital.
火事のとき閉まるドアが In times of fire, to close doors.
１の階に per floor.
１つずつ ありました one each, there is.

How's That?

 

[Toritoribe]

The key expression I want to know if you understand is 火事のとき閉まるドア. Read the following nekojita-san's explanation again.
Please check my translation.

 

[letslearn]

I see.
It should be. Doors which close when there is a fire.

 

[Toritoribe]

You got it right!

 

[letslearn]

Thanks toritoribesan