每

• Pinyin: měi
• Hanzi breakdown: 每 = originally a pictograph of a woman with a headdress; now used as a function word meaning every

Meaning

Every; each. Used before measure words or nouns to indicate each and every one without exception.

A determiner that precedes measure words or time words to express every or each one in a group. Unlike 各 which emphasizes variety, 每 emphasizes all members without exception. Commonly used in patterns like 每天 (every day), 每个人 (every person), 每次 (every time).

Examples

1. 他每天早上都去跑步。 He goes running every morning.
2. 每个人都有自己的想法。 Everyone has their own ideas.
3. 我每次去那家店都会买咖啡。 Every time I go to that shop, I buy coffee.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, routine, description

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 每个周末我都会去看望父母。(I visit my parents every weekend.)
• 每一次失败都是一次学习的机会。(Every failure is a chance to learn.)

Don't Say

• 每人都来了。(Don't use 每 directly before a noun without a measure word — say 每个人 with the measure word 个)

Origin & History

Originally depicted a woman wearing a headdress, later meaning to flourish. The meaning shifted to every or each through usage in classical Chinese as a cyclical marker.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal