Expressing "every time" with "mei" and "dou"

每⋯⋯都⋯⋯ (měi... dōu...) is a pattern used to express "every time," even though the phrase 每次 (měi cì) may not be explicitly used.

Structure

You should already be familiar with how 每 and 都 work together. In this grammar structure, the focus is on what happens every time a certain action is done, for example, "every time he comes across a problem, he needs to write it down."

每 + Verb + Number + Measure Word + Noun + 都 + Verb

Examples

• 他 每 遇到 一 个 问题 都 要 记 下来 。 Tā měi yùdào yī gè wèntí dōu yào jì xiàlái. Every time he comes across a problem, he needs to write it down.
• 她 每 去一个 地方 都 要 拍照 。 Tā měi qùyī gè dìfang dōu yào pāizhào. Every time she visits some place, she takes photos.
• 他 每 拍 完 一部 电影 都 要 休息 一个月 。 Tā měi pāi wán yī bù diànyǐng dōu yào xiūxi yī gè yuè. Every time he finishes shooting a movie, he needs to take a break for one month.
• 记住 ，每 写 完 一 篇 文章 都 要 保存 。 Jìzhù, měi xiě wán yī piān wénzhāng dōu yào bǎocún. Remember, every time you finish writing an article, save it.
• 他 每 换 一 个 工作 ， 都 要 搬家 。 Tā měi huàn yī gè gōngzuò, dōu yào bānjiā. Every time he starts a new job, he moves.
• 为什么 我 每 说 一 件 事 ， 你 都 要 问 “真的吗” ？ Wèishénme wǒ měi shuō yī jiàn shì, nǐ dōu yào wèn"zhēnde ma"? Why you have to ask "really" every time I say something?

See also

• Pronoun "mei" for "every"
• Emphasising quantity with "dou"
• Measure words for verbs

Sources and further reading

Books

• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 87-8) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 267) →buy
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 284-5) →buy