A2 Intermediate Quantities & Measures

How to Say “Every” with 每 (měi)

每 (měi) means “every / each,” but it’s not just one word: the full shape is 每 + measure word + noun + 都. 每个人都 (“everyone”), 每本书都 (“every book”). Time words that are already measure words — 天, 年, 周, 次 — take 每 directly: 每天, 每年 (never 每个天).

Why this trips learners up

每 (měi) is “every / each,” but using it well means remembering two extra pieces. First, 每 normally needs a measure word before the noun, just like a number does: 每 + measure word + noun — 每个人 (“every person”), 每本书 (“every book”), 每张票 (“every ticket”). You can’t say 每书; it’s 每本书.

Second, in a complete sentence 每 almost always pairs with 都 in the predicate: 每 + measure word + noun + 都 + …. 每个人都知道 (“everyone knows”), 每个房间都有窗户 (“every room has a window”). The 每 sets up “for each one…,” and 都 sweeps back over the whole set to complete the thought. (For the full story on why 都 is obligatory, see the 都 page.)

The one exception to the measure word: some time and frequency words are already measure words themselves — 天 (day), 年 (year), 周 (week), 次 (time/occasion). These take 每 directly, with no 个: 每天, 每年, 每周, 每次 — never 每个天. (月, though, is an ordinary noun: it’s 每个月.)

And 每 + measure word can stand without a noun when context is clear: 这些密码每个都不一样 (“every one of these passwords is different”).

The structure

每 měi Measure wordSubject 都 dōu Verb

Colour key

Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.

Pattern Subject Verb Object Time Place Adverb Function word Adjective Measure word Question

Examples in context

Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.

Tap a word to see its grammatical role.

zhège guójiā 这个国家 Subject měi 每 Pattern gè 个 Measure word chéngshì 城市 Subject dōu 都 Adverb hěn piàoliang 很漂亮 Adjective

Every city in this country is beautiful (每个 + noun).

wǒ nǎinai 我奶奶 Subject měi 每 Pattern tiān 天 Measure word dōu 都 Adverb sànbù 散步 Verb

My grandma takes a walk every day (每天 — 天 is its own measure word, no 个).

tā 他 Subject měi 每 Pattern gè 个 Measure word yuè 月 Time dōu 都 Adverb qù 去 Verb kàn yáyī 看牙医 Verb

He goes to the dentist every month (每个月 — 月 takes 个).

měi 每 Pattern cì 次 Measure word kǎoshì 考试 Object tā 他 Subject dōu 都 Adverb hěn jǐnzhāng 很紧张 Adjective

Every time there’s an exam, he gets nervous (每次 — no 个).

zhè tào shū 这套书 Object měi 每 Pattern běn 本 Measure word wǒ 我 Subject dōu 都 Adverb kàn 看 Verb guo 过 Function word

I’ve read every book in this set (每本 — book takes 本).

wǒmen 我们 Subject měi 每 Pattern nián 年 Measure word dōu 都 Adverb huí 回 Verb lǎojiā 老家 Place guònián 过年 Verb

Every year we go back to our hometown for New Year (每年 — no 个).

zhèxiē mìmǎ 这些密码 Subject měi 每 Pattern gè 个 Measure word dōu 都 Adverb bù yíyàng 不一样 Adjective ma 吗 Question

Is every one of these passwords different? (每个 standing alone, no noun).

lǎoshī 老师 Subject yāoqiú 要求 Verb wǒmen 我们 Object měi 每 Pattern zhōu 周 Measure word dōu 都 Adverb jiāo 交 Verb yì piān 一篇 Measure word zuòwén 作文 Object

The teacher requires us to hand in an essay every week (每周 — no 个).

Common mistakes

Avoid: 我每书都喜欢。 wǒ měi shū dōu xǐhuan.

Say this: 我每本书都喜欢。 wǒ měi běn shū dōu xǐhuan.

Why it happens: 每 needs a measure word before an ordinary noun, like a number does: 每本书 (“every book”), not 每书. Most nouns take 个 (每个人) or their own measure word (每本, 每张).

Avoid: 我每个天都喝咖啡。 wǒ měi gè tiān dōu hē kāfēi.

Say this: 我每天都喝咖啡。 wǒ měitiān dōu hē kāfēi.

Why it happens: 天 / 年 / 周 / 次 are already measure words, so 每 attaches straight to them — 每天, 每年, 每周, 每次 — never 每个天. (Watch out: 月 is ordinary, so it IS 每个月.)

Avoid: 这个公司每个员工有保险。 zhège gōngsī měi gè yuángōng yǒu bǎoxiǎn.

Say this: 这个公司每个员工都有保险。 zhège gōngsī měi gè yuángōng dōu yǒu bǎoxiǎn.

Why it happens: 每 sets up “for each one…,” and the predicate needs 都 to finish the thought: 每个员工都有保险 (“every employee has insurance”), not 每个员工有保险. 每 and 都 work as a pair.

Compare & contrast

每 + measure word + noun	每 + self-measure noun (no 个)	The difference
每个学生měi gè xuésheng	每天měitiān	每个学生 (“every student”) — an ordinary noun, so it needs the measure word 个. 每天 (“every day”) — 天 is already a measure word, so no 个.
每本书měi běn shū	每次měi cì	每本书 (“every book”) takes 本; 每次 (“every time”) takes nothing extra — 次 is its own measure word.

Rule of thumb每 needs a measure word before an ordinary noun — 每个人, 每本书, 每张票. But time/frequency words that are already measure words — 天, 年, 周, 次 — take 每 directly: 每天, 每年, 每周, 每次 (never 每个天). And in a full sentence, 每 almost always pairs with 都.

Try it yourself

Say “Every child has a dream.” — 每 + 个 + noun + 都 + verb.

Related patterns

Quick reference card

How to Say “Every” with 每 (měi) grammar.merrymandarin.com

A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.

Structure

每 + Measure word + Subject + 都 + Verb

Example

这个国家每个城市都很漂亮

Every city in this country is beautiful (每个 + noun).

Watch out

✗ 我每书都喜欢。 → ✓ 我每本书都喜欢。