每种 (měi chóng) — each kind; every type

Definition

每种 means 'each kind' or 'every type' — used like an adjective before a noun to mean 'all varieties without exception'. More specific than 每个 (each individual item); emphasizes kinds/categories rather than separate items.

pronoun

each kindevery type

Examples

每种。
měi chóng Shuǐ guǒ wǒ dōu xǐ huan.
I like every kind of fruit.
每种。
Zhè ge diàn lǐ měi chóng shāng pǐn dōu dǎ zhé.
Every kind of product in this store is on sale.
每种。
Qǐng bǎ měi chóng yán sè dōu ná yí gè.
Please take one of each color.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

每měieach

种zhǒngkind

“每” points to every one and “种” names a kind, giving each kind.

Characters in this word

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

屮屮chè
母母mǔwoman

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.

Open 每 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

禾中种

Meaning part形符xíngfú

禾禾hérice

Sound part声符shēngfú

中

中zhōng种zhǒng

Same sound today

种 pairs 禾, which shows rice or grain and fits meanings like plant and seed, with 中, which gives its sound.

Open 种 →

Appears in