Both 每 transcribed měimeaning every and 各 transcribed gèmeaning each are used in Mandarin Chinese to refer to an individual member of a particular group. 每 transcribed měi emphasizes totality. For example:
Contrastively, 各 transcribed gè emphasizes individuality. For example:
Unlike “every” and “each” in English, 每 transcribed měi and 各 transcribed gè in Mandarin Chinese have a wider range of functions. Dive in and get to know more about how these two words are used.
How to use 每 (měi, “every”) in Mandarin Chinese?
Use 每 transcribed měimeaning every to focus on the inclusion of everyone or everything in a relevant group or category. For example:
每 transcribed měimeaning every in the above sentence suggests that every student wants to go to university, and there are no exceptions.
When to use 每 (měi) + measure word + noun?
It is common to use a measure word between 每 transcribed měimeaning every and the noun in Mandarin Chinese. For example:
In the example above, the measure word 所 transcribed suǒ for multi-building complexes, such as universities, is used between 每 transcribed měi and 大学 transcribed dàxuémeaning university.
How to use 每 (měi) + 一 (yī, “one”)?
Note that 一 transcribed yīmeaning one in "每 transcribed měi + 一 transcribed yī + noun/measure word” can be omitted. In doing so, we can create a shorter version of the phrase:
| Long version | Short version |
|---|---|
每一人 Transcription: měi yī rén Translation: everyone | 每人 Transcription: měi rén Translation: everyone |
每一家 Transcription: měi yī jiā Translation: every family | 每家 Transcription: měi jiā Translation: every family |
每一天 Transcription: měi yī tiān Translation: every day | 每天 Transcription: měi tiān Translation: every day |
每一年 Transcription: měi yī nián Translation: every year | 每年 Transcription: měi nián Translation: every year |
每一斤 Transcription: měi yī jīn Translation: every 500 grams | 每斤 Transcription: měi jīn Translation: every 500 grams |
每一次 Transcription: měi yī cì Translation: every time | 每次 Transcription: měi cì Translation: every time |
The condition for using the above short versions, which is the more natural form, is that the noun itself is a measure word, as well. For example, 斤 transcribed jīnmeaning 500 grams, 次 transcribed cìmeaning times, etc. are also measure words.
The above short versions are workable only when the number is 一 transcribed yīmeaning one. Other numbers won’t work with the short versions. For example, there is no short version for 每三人 transcribed měi sān rénmeaning every three people. Namely, the number “three” cannot be omitted, because 每人 transcribed měi rén means "everyone."
When to use 每 (měi) + measure word + noun + 都 (dōu, “all”)?
The phrase 每… 都 transcribed měi … dōumeaning every … all emphasizes “every” one in the group with no exceptions. This 都 transcribed dōu needs to be placed before the verb and cannot be omitted. For example:
When to use 每 (měi, “every”) + verb?
In addition to , 每 transcribed měimeaning every can modify as well. Take a look:
In the example above, we see 每 transcribed měi modifying the verb 唱 transcribed chàng to indicate “every time he sang.”
How to use 各 (gè, “each”) in Mandarin Chinese?
各 transcribed gèmeaning each refers to people or things as individuals, rather than as members of a group. For example:
When to use 各 (gè) + measure word + noun?
Just like 每 transcribed měimeaning every, 各 transcribed gèmeaning each can go with measure words followed by nouns. For example:
The measure words can be optional for 各 transcribed gèmeaning each:
| Long version | Short version |
|---|---|
各个人 Transcription: gè ge rén Translation: each person | 各人 Transcription: gè rén Translation: each person |
各个家庭 Transcription: gè ge jiātíng Translation: each family | 各家 Transcription: gè jiā Translation: each family |
各所大学 Transcription: gè suǒ dàxué Translation: each university | 各大学 Transcription: gè dàxué Translation: each university |
各个地方 Transcription: gè ge dìfang Translation: each place | 各地 Transcription: gè dì Translation: each place |
In Mandarin Chinese, there is a preference for expressions with an even number of characters. For example, as the above table shows, it is more natural to say 各个地方 (four characters) or 各地 two characters), but less natural to say 各地方 (three characters). Similarly, it is natural to say 各家 (two characters) or 各个家庭 (four characters), but less natural to say 各家庭. Of course, there are some exceptions. For example, 各大学 listed in the above table seems okay. This could be a cultural thing, because when the Chinese give out presents/gifts, they are also often in even numbers whenever possible (e.g. two bottles of wine, instead of only one). Perhaps things in pairs could be a happy or lucky sign.
There is a difference between 每 transcribed měimeaning every and 各 transcribed gèmeaning each when they are used with measure words. For example, 各所大学 transcribed gè suǒ dàxuémeaning each university ⇒ 各大学, but this doesn't work for 每所大学 transcribed měi suǒ dàxuémeaning every university ⇏ 每大学, because 大学 cannot be used as a measure word, so it can't be shortened to 每大学.
Do you use 各 (gè) with 一 (yī, “one”)?
每 transcribed měi can go with 一 transcribed yīmeaning one, but 各 transcribed gè cannot:
For example:
The reason for this is that 每一种人 means "every and each one of us,” and this sounds okay in Mandarin. However, 各一种人 means "each and one of us," which sounds odd. 一 transcribed yī does not go with 各 transcribed gè because 各 transcribed gè itself already emphasizes "each."
When to use 各 (gè) + measure word + noun + 都 (dōu, “all”)
Use 各…都 transcribed gè … dōumeaning each …allto emphasize “each” one in the group with no exceptions.
For example:
As the above sentence shows, 各…都 transcribed gè … dōumeaning each …all emphasizes "each" one in the group with no exceptions. 每…都 transcribed měi … dōumeaning every … all emphasizes “every” member in the group with no exceptions, as we saw above. For example:
When to use 各 (gè) + verb + 各 (gè)?
When 各 transcribed gèmeaning each is used with verbs, it tends to be reduplicated:
How to use idioms with 各 (gè, “each”)?
In Mandarin Chinese, there are several idioms involving 各 transcribed gèmeaning each.
For example:
When to use 每 (měi) vs. 各 (gè) in Mandarin Chinese?
每 transcribed měimeaning every and 各 transcribed gèmeaning each are interchangeable in some cases and not in others. Take a look at some examples of when the two are interchangeable:
The above two sentences convey similar meanings.
每 transcribed měi and 各 transcribed gè are not interchangeable when 每 transcribed měi is translated as "each" in English. Cases like this often involve price or the amount each person gets.
For example:
各 transcribed gè cannot replace 每 transcribed měi in the above two sentences.
To sum up
每 transcribed měimeaning every and 各 transcribed gèmeaning each are similar in three aspects:
They can both go with measure words or without them.
They can also be used together with 都 transcribed dōumeaning all.
They both go with verbs.
While both 每 transcribed měimeaning every and 各 transcribed gèmeaning each refer to the members of a particular group, 每 transcribed měi focuses more on totality, but 各 transcribed gè more on individuals. 每 transcribed měi can go with 一 transcribed yīmeaning one, each, but 各 transcribed gè cannot, due to its meaning. 各 transcribed gè is also often used to form idioms, but 每 transcribed měi is not.
Okay, now it is time to try out what we have discussed here, go ahead check out these exercises to practice using 每 transcribed měimeaning every and 各 transcribed gèmeaning each in Mandarin Chinese!
