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Chinese Grammar Bank
HOW TO USE 每 IN CHINESE
In Chinese, the character “每” (měi) is used to express the concept of “every.”
It can be used to describe actions that happen regularly, people or objects in a group, or recurring events in time.
In this lesson, we will explore the different ways to use “每” (měi) in sentences, with detailed explanations and examples.
USING 每 WITH NOUNS
When “每” is used with nouns, it indicates “every” in the sense of each item in a group or a recurring event.
PATTERN
每 + (Measure word) + Noun
| chinese | pinyin | english |
|---|---|---|
| 每个人 | měi gè rén | every person |
| 每天 | měi tiān | every day |
| 每件事 | měi jiàn shì | every matter |
| 每个国家 | měi gè guó jiā | every country |
| 每位客人 | měi wèi kè rén | every guest |
| 每条路 | měi tiáo lù | every road |
In these examples, “每” is placed before the noun to indicate that the action or characteristic applies to all members of the group.
In some cases, a measure word (such as “个” for people or objects) is used between “每” and the noun.
USING 每 WITH TIME EXPRESSIONS
“每” is frequently used with time expressions to describe regularity or routine.
PATTERN
每 + Time word
| chinese | pinyin | english |
|---|---|---|
| 每天 | měi tiān | every day |
| 每年 | měi nián | every year |
| 每个月 | měi gè yuè | every month |
| 每周 | měi zhōu | every week |
| 每个小时 | měi gè xiǎo shí | every hour |
| 每秒 | měi miǎo | every second |
These examples show how “每” can be paired with time words to indicate that something happens at regular intervals. This is commonly used when discussing routines or schedules.
USING 每 WITH MEASURE WORDS
In Chinese, nouns are often paired with measure words.
“每” can be used with measure words to specify “every” item of a certain type.
PATTERN
每 + Measure Word + Noun
| CHINESE | PINYIN | ENGLISH |
|---|---|---|
| 每本书 | měi běn shū | every book |
| 每杯水 | měi bēi shuǐ | every cup of water |
| 每只猫 | měi zhī māo | every cat |
| 每辆车 | měi liàng chē | every car |
| 每件衣服 | měi jiàn yī fu | every piece of clothing |
| 每朵花 | měi duǒ huā | every flower |
The use of measure words in Chinese is essential.
When using “每” with measure words, it helps clarify which items are being referred to, such as books, cars, or flowers.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS WITH 每
In Chinese, collocations refer to combinations of words that commonly appear together. Understanding these collocations can help learners sound more natural and fluent.
The character 每 (měi), meaning “every,” is often paired with various nouns and phrases to express frequency, regularity, or inclusivity.
Below are some common collocations with 每 (měi) along with explanations and example sentences.
| 每个学生 | měi gè xué shēng | every student |
| 每次机会 | měi cì jī huì | every opportunity |
| 每年 | měi nián | every year |
| 每个月 | měi gè yuè | every month |
Let’s view some sentence examples:
| 每个学生都积极参加活动。 | Měi gè xué shēng dōu jī jí cān jiā huó dòng. | Every student actively participates in activities. |
| 在每次机会来临时，我都不会放弃。 | Zài měi cì jī huì lái lín shí, wǒ dōu bù huì fàng qì. | I will never give up whenever an opportunity arises. |
| 我每年都去国外旅游一次。 | Wǒ měi nián dōu qù guó wài lǚ yóu yī cì. | I travel abroad once every year. |
| 她每个细节都考虑得很周到。 | Tā měi gè xì jié dōu kǎo lǜ de hěn zhōu dào. | She considers every detail very thoughtfully. |
IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS WITH 每
In Chinese, “每” (měi) also appears in several idiomatic expressions that reflect cultural values and everyday experiences.
These idioms are used frequently in both written and spoken language.
| CHINESE | PINYIN | ENGLISH | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| 每况愈下 | měi kuàng yù xià | To get worse day by day | Describes a situation that keeps getting worse. |
| 每时每刻 | měi shí měi kè | Every moment | Refers to something happening constantly or all the time. |
| 每家每户 | měi jiā měi hù | Every family and household | Refers to all families or every household. |
| 每逢佳节倍思亲 | měi féng jiā jié bèi sī qīn | Longing for loved ones during festivals | Describes the feeling of missing family members during holidays. |
| 每念及此 | měi niàn jí cǐ | Every time I think of it | Used to express frequent memories or thoughts about something. |
SUMMARY
In this lesson, we explored the versatile character 每 (měi), which is used to express “every” or “each” in Chinese.
The character plays an essential role in describing regularity, inclusion, and repetition across a wide range of contexts. Here’s a breakdown of what we covered:
Basic Usage: 每 (měi) is commonly used with nouns, verbs, and time expressions to indicate regular actions or events. For example, “每个人” means “every person,” and “每天” means “every day.”
Measure Words: When used with countable nouns, 每 often requires a measure word, such as “每个学生” (every student). However, uncountable nouns like “water” may require a container measure word, such as “每杯水” (every cup of water).
Time Expressions: 每 is frequently paired with time-related words to describe habitual actions, such as “每年” (every year) or “每次” (every time). It highlights routines or scheduled activities.
Idiomatic Expressions: 每 is used in many idiomatic expressions, such as “每况愈下” (to get worse day by day) and “每时每刻” (every moment). These idioms enrich everyday language with cultural depth and nuance.
Common Collocations: We examined common collocations with 每, such as “每个细节” (every detail) and “每次机会” (every opportunity), which frequently appear in both formal and informal speech.
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FAQs
How is 每 typically used in a sentence?
每 is used to mean “every” or “each” in Chinese, often paired with measure words to talk about frequency or routines.
What is the sentence structure when using 每?
Sentences with 每 typically follow the pattern 每 + Measure Word + Noun + Verb, like in 每天吃饭 (měi tiān chī fàn, “eat every day”).
Can 每 be used with adverbs or time words?
Yes, 每 is commonly paired with time expressions, such as 每天 (měi tiān, “every day”) or 每年 (měi nián, “every year”), to describe regular occurrences.
What difference between 每 and 经常 or 常常?
Yes, 每 means “every” (as in each instance), while 经常 and 常常 mean “often” or “frequently” but do not imply that something happens every time.
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