Table of Contents

Grammar Point

每 měi

每 means “each” or “every.” You’ll use it constantly to talk about things that happen again and again on a regular schedule — every day, every week, every time.

一 The Basic Pattern

每 + Measure Word + (Noun) + (都)

Normally a measure word sits between 每 and the noun. But some words already act like their own measure word, so you attach 每 straight onto them with nothing in between.

Word	Meaning	With 每
天tiān	day	每天měitiān
年nián	year	每年měinián
週zhōu周zhōu	week	每週měizhōu每周měizhōu
次cì	time (occurrence)	每次měicì

我wǒ每天měitiān吃chī早饭zǎofàn

I eat breakfast every day.

她tā每周měizhōu两次liǎngcì中文zhōngwén课kè

She has Chinese class twice a week.

每个人měigerén的de想法xiǎngfǎ都dōu不同bùtóng

Everyone has different thoughts.

人 needs the measure word 个 (ge) between 每 and the noun.

你nǐ为什么wèishénme每次měicì都dōu迟到chídào？

Why are you late every single time?

来lái台湾Táiwān后hòu我wǒ每天měitiān都dōu在zài晚上wǎnshang洗澡xǐzǎo

After coming to Taiwan, I take a shower every night.

In both Taiwan and China, showering at night is the norm rather than the exception. The climate is hot and humid, so an evening shower helps you feel clean and cool before bed — especially after a long, warm day. Mornings also tend to be rushed with work and school, so showering at night means you can take your time. Plenty of people also find a warm shower helps them relax and sleep better.

二 When Can You Drop 都?

都 (dōu) means “all” and usually pairs up with 每 to reinforce it. But when 每 is attached to a time word and you’re simply stating that something happens regularly, you can leave 都 out.

我wǒ每天měitiān吃chī早饭zǎofàn

I eat breakfast every day.

Just a plain statement of routine — no 都 needed.

我wǒ每天měitiān都dōu吃chī早饭zǎofàn

I eat breakfast every single day.

Adding 都 gives it a bit more emphasis — “without exception.”

When 每 is attached to something that isn’t a time word — like 每个人 (everyone) — you’ll almost always want 都 in there.

三 Negation: 不是 Goes in Front

To say “not every…”, put 不是 (búshì) at the very start of the 每 phrase, not next to the verb. You’re pushing back on the whole idea of “every,” not on the action itself.

不是 + 每 + Measure Word + (Noun) + (都)

不是búshì每个人měigerén都dōu爱ài他的tāde工作gōngzuò

Not everyone loves their job.

我們wǒmen不是búshì每周měizhōu上课shàngkè

We don’t have classes every week.

我wǒ不是búshì每天měitiān在zài家jiā，我wǒ很hěn忙máng！

I’m not at home every day — I’m very busy!

四 A Song With 每 in the Lyrics

A nice way to hear 每 stacked up over and over in natural speech.

每分měifēn每秒měimiǎo每日měirì每夜měiyè，每一个měiyíge你nǐ都dōu是shì幸福xìngfú的de起点qǐdiǎn

Every minute, every second, every day, and every night, each one of you is the starting point of happiness.

每分měifēn每秒měimiǎo每日měirì每夜měiyè，每一个měiyíge我wǒ都dōu为wèi你nǐ多duō爱ài一点yìdiǎn

Every minute, every second, every day, and every night, with each one of me I love you a little more.

五 Common Mistakes

❌ 每měi人rén都dōu有yǒu手機shǒujī手机shǒujī

✅ 每個měige每个měige人rén都dōu有yǒu手機shǒujī手机shǒujī

人 isn’t a time word, so it needs the measure word 個个 between 每 and the noun.

❌ 我wǒ每個天měigetiān每个天měigetiān運動yùndòng运动yùndòng

✅ 我wǒ每天měitiān運動yùndòng运动yùndòng

天 already works like its own measure word, so don’t squeeze 個个 in there.

❌ 每個人měigerén每个人měigerén不是búshì都dōu愛ài爱ài他的tāde工作gōngzuò

✅ 不是búshì每個人měigerén每个人měigerén都dōu愛ài爱ài他的tāde工作gōngzuò

不是 goes in front of the whole 每 phrase, not stuck in the middle of it.

六 Practice

Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like — or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck.

Question 1 of 10

“I have a cup of coffee every morning.”