每 měi + Time expression

Grammar Point:
每 měi + time expression means “every / each + period of time”. It is used to talk about something that happens regularly or repeatedly.

Structure

每 měi + time expression + V (+ O)

他tā每天měitiān學xué中文zhōngwén他tā每天měitiān学xué中文zhōngwén
He studies Chinese every day.

我wǒ每měi星期xīngqí上shàng兩次liǎngcì課kè我wǒ每měi星期xīngqī上shàng两次liǎngcì课kè
I have class twice a week.

我wǒ每měi個ge月yuè去qù一次yícì旅行lǚxíng我wǒ每měi个ge月yuè去qù一次yícì旅行lǚxíng
I travel once every month.
The object can be placed either before or after “times.”

我wǒ每měi年nián回huí台灣Táiwān我wǒ每měi年nián回huí台湾Táiwān
I return to Taiwan every year.

每měi三天sāntiān吃chī一次yícì藥yào每měi三天sāntiān吃chī一次yícì药yào
Take medicine once every three days.

我wǒ每měi兩天liǎngtiān運動yùndòng一次yícì我wǒ每měi两天liǎngtiān运动yùndòng一次yícì
I exercise every two days.

火車huǒchē十shí分鐘fēnzhōng來lái一班yìbān火车huǒchē十shí分钟fēnzhōng来lái一班yìbān
A train comes every ten minutes.

📌 In daily conversation, when using the structure “每 + number + time + Verb + times,” 每 měi can sometimes be dropped.

每 měi with 就 jiù and 才 cái

他tā每měi半年bànnián去qù一次yícì中國Zhōngguó他tā每měi半年bànnián去qù一次yícì中国Zhōngguó
He goes to China once every six months.
It simply describes a routine frequency with no emotional tone, just neutral information.

他tā每měi半年bànnián就jiù去qù一次yícì中國Zhōngguó他tā每měi半年bànnián就jiù去qù一次yícì中国Zhōngguó
He goes to China every six months (already!).
就 jiù adds emphasis and suggests that something happens “already that often,” sometimes with a sense of surprise or expectation.

他tā每měi半年bànnián才cái去qù一次yícì中國Zhōngguó他tā每měi半年bànnián才cái去qù一次yícì中国Zhōngguó
He only goes to China once every six months.
才 cái expresses low frequency, implying that something happens too infrequently from the speaker’s perspective and focusing on the idea that it is not enough.