Expressing "every time" with "mei" and "dou"
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
"每...都..." (měi...dōu...) is a pattern used to express "every" when talking about a quantitative amount.
Contents
Structure 1
Rememebr, when you went to express "every" with 每, as in "every day I take a nap", don't forget the 都!
每 + Number + Measure Word + Noun + 都 + Adjective/Verb
An important note is that if the number is simply just "one", then it's usually omitted.
Examples
- 我 每 个 星期 三 都 去 实习。
- 他 每 天 都 上 班。
- 请 你 每 两 天 服 一 次 药。
Structure 2
In this grammar structure, we focus on every time a certain action is done, like "every time I eat chili I feel happy." We can think of this structure as "every verb all something-something."
每 +Verb + Number+ 都 + Adjective/Verb
Examples
- 她 每 说 一 句 话 都 要 停 一下。
- 我 每 看完 一部电影 都 想跟他讨论。
See also
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
