各

• Pinyin: gè
• Hanzi breakdown: 各 = 夂 (foot going down) + 口 (mouth/dwelling), originally meaning to arrive; extended to mean each

Meaning

Each; every; various. A pronoun used before nouns to indicate each or every member of a group individually.

Used before nouns or measure words to mean each, every, or all kinds of. Unlike 每 which emphasizes every single one, 各 emphasizes the variety or individuality within a group. Common in phrases like 各种 (all kinds), 各地 (everywhere), 各位 (everyone, a polite address).

Examples

1. 各种水果我都喜欢吃。 I like eating all kinds of fruit.
2. 各位同学，请安静一下。 Everyone, please quiet down for a moment.
3. 他去过中国各地旅游。 He has travelled to various places across China.

Usage Guide

Context: formal address, description, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 各国都派了代表来参加会议。(Each country sent representatives to attend the meeting.)
• 这家超市有各种各样的商品。(This supermarket has all kinds of products.)

Don't Say

• 各学生都来了。(Don't use 各 directly before a plain noun — say 各位学生 or 每个学生 instead)

Origin & History

Originally a pictograph of a foot arriving at a dwelling, meaning to come or arrive. The meaning shifted to each or every, as in each one arriving separately.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal