每当

• Pinyin: měi dāng
• Hanzi breakdown: 每 = 母 (mother) + 一 (one) — each, every; 当 = 彐 (snout) + 田 (field) — to face, to be at a certain time

Meaning

Whenever; every time that; each time. A temporal conjunction introducing a recurring condition.

Used to introduce a recurring time clause, indicating that whenever a particular situation occurs, a certain consequence or feeling follows. Common in both spoken and written Chinese, frequently appearing in literary, reflective, or descriptive contexts.

Examples

1. 每当春天来临，田野里的油菜花竞相盛开，金黄一片，令人心旷神怡。 Whenever spring arrives, the rapeseed flowers in the fields bloom in competition, turning everything a sea of gold and lifting the spirit.
2. 每当遇到困难，她总会想起父亲的那句话：坚持下去，黎明前的黑暗是最难熬的。 Whenever she runs into difficulties, she remembers her father’s words: Keep going—the darkness before dawn is the hardest to endure.
3. 每当听到这首歌，他都会不由自主地想起大学时代那段无忧无虑的青春岁月。 Whenever he hears this song, he can’t help thinking of those carefree youth-filled days in college.

Usage Guide

Context: literary, reflective, everyday, descriptive

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 每当夜深人静，她会独自坐在书桌前，回顾白天的得失，为明天做好准备。(Whenever the night grows still and deep, she sits alone at her desk, reviewing the gains and losses of the day and preparing herself for tomorrow.)
• 每当节假日来临，这条商业街便会人头攒动，热闹非凡，各大商家也纷纷推出促销活动。(Whenever a holiday approaches, this commercial street becomes packed with people and buzzing with activity, as shops roll out one promotion after another.)

Don't Say

• 将'每当'用于表达单次事件 — 单次时间应用'当……时'或'在……时' (Don't use 每当 for a single, one-off event — use 当……时 or 在……时 for non-recurring occasions)

Origin & History

每 (every, each) + 当 (when, at the time of). Together forming a conjunction meaning 'each time that' or 'whenever'.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal