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每 (měi) — each; every

Definition

每 (měi) goes BEFORE a noun or time word to mean 'each/every' (每个人, 每天, 每年). Unlike 各, it does not take a verb directly.

eachevery
Easily confused

Examples

  • 。
    Wǒ měi tiān dōu hē yì bēi shuǐ.
    I drink a glass of water every day.
  • 。
    měi Gè xué shēng dōu yǒu shū.
    Every student has books.
  • Wǒ měi nián qù yí gè dì fāng
    I go to a place every year.

Origin

Compound ideograph
六书liùshū
会意huìyì

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

每 shows 母, a woman, with a top part resembling 屮. That part may represent a hairpin marking her as grown up, or a sprout marking her as ready to marry and have children.

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 2500 Most Frequent Chinese WordsHSK 2.0 Level 21000 Most Frequent Chinese WordsQuantity & Amount2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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