Introduction
每 (měi) means "every". It behaves like a number, so a measure word follows it — 每个人 (měi ge rén) — and the sentence then wants 都 (dōu) in front of the verb. 每个人都有名字。(Měi ge rén dōu yǒu míngzi.) — Everyone has a name.
Overview
Structure: 每 (měi) + Measure Word + Noun + 都 (dōu) + Verb
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 每 + MW + N + 都 + V | 每个人都有名字。(Měi ge rén dōu yǒu míngzi.) | Everyone has a name. |
| 每天 / 每年（no MW） | 我每天都学中文。(Wǒ měi tiān dōu xué Zhōngwén.) | I study Chinese every day. |
| 每 + MW + N（as object） | 我认识每个人。(Wǒ rènshi měi ge rén.) | I know everyone. |
| 每 + Number + MW | 每两天 (měi liǎng tiān) | every two days |
| 每……都不 / 都没 | 他每天都不吃早饭。(Tā měi tiān dōu bù chī zǎofàn.) | He skips breakfast every day. |
每 (měi) almost always brings 都 (dōu) with it:
- ✓ 每个人都有名字。(Měi ge rén dōu yǒu míngzi.)
- ❌ 每个人有名字。(Měi ge rén yǒu míngzi.) — grammatical, but it sounds unfinished to a native ear.
- 都 (dōu) looks backwards, so the 每 phrase has to come before it: 我每天都学中文 (wǒ měi tiān dōu xué Zhōngwén).
- The exception is when 每 is the object rather than the subject: 我认识每个人。(Wǒ rènshi měi ge rén.) — no 都, because there is nothing in front of the verb for it to look back at.
Examples
每个人都有名字。
Měi ge rén dōu yǒu míngzi.
Everyone has a name.
我每天都学中文。
Wǒ měi tiān dōu xué Zhōngwén.
I study Chinese every day.
他每年都去中国。
Tā měi nián dōu qù Zhōngguó.
He goes to China every year.
每本书我都看过。
Měi běn shū wǒ dōu kànguo.
I've read every one of these books.
我每个星期都去两次。
Wǒ měi ge xīngqī dōu qù liǎng cì.
I go twice a week.
他每天都不吃早饭。
Tā měi tiān dōu bù chī zǎofàn.
He goes without breakfast every day.
Usage Notes
- 天 (tiān)、年 (nián)、星期 (xīngqī) and 分钟 (fēnzhōng) are measure words themselves, so 每天 (měi tiān) and 每年 (měi nián) need no 个 (ge). 每个星期 (měi ge xīngqī) and 每个月 (měi ge yuè) do take it.
- The negative goes after 都 (dōu), not before: ✓ 每天都不吃 (měi tiān dōu bù chī) ❌ 每天不都吃 (měi tiān bù dōu chī), which would mean "not every day".
- 每 (měi) can count in groups: 每两天 (měi liǎng tiān) every two days，每三个月 (měi sān ge yuè) every three months.
- To put the object under 每, move it in front of the subject: 每本书我都看过。(Měi běn shū wǒ dōu kànguo.)
- 每 (měi) is about a repeated whole; 都 (dōu) on its own is about a group already mentioned. They work together but are not the same word.