Difference between revisions of "Expressing "every time" with "mei" and "dou""

m (Text replacement - "{{HSK|HSK2}}" to "{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}")
 
(32 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
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.
+
每次⋯⋯ 都⋯⋯ (měi ... dōu...) is a pattern used to express "every time." Translating from English, you might feel that the only part really needed is 每次 (měi cì), since it literally means "every time." This is incorrect! Not only is [[The "all" adverb "dou"|the adverb 都 (dōu)]] ''required'', but it's arguably more vital than the 每次 (měi cì)! So it's important to get used to using both parts.
  
== Simple Pattern ==  
+
== Structure ==
  
=== Structure ===
+
This pattern actually builds on the [[Expressing "every" with "mei"|basic 每……都…… pattern]], which you should already know. In this grammar structure, we go beyond just saying things like "every person" or "every day," and focus on what happens '''''every time''' a certain action is done.''
 
 
You should already be familiar with how [[]] and [[都]] work together. In this grammar structure, the focus is on what happens '''''every time''' a certain action is done.''
 
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 每次 + [Verb Phrase 1] + 都 + [Verb Phrase 2]
+
每次 + Event 1 + 都 + Event 2
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
=== Examples ===
+
== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*小时候 <em>每次</em> 过年 ,奶奶 <em>都</em> 给 我 红包 。<span class="pinyin">Xiǎoshíhou <em>měi cì</em> guònián nǎinai <em>dōu</em> gěi wǒ hóngbāo.</span><span class="trans">When I was young, every time we celebrate CNY, grandma gave me a red packet.</span>
+
*<em>每次</em> 来 我 家 <strong>都</strong> 带 花 。<span class="pinyin"><em>měi cì</em> lái wǒ jiā <strong>dōu</strong> dài huā.</span><span class="trans">She brings flowers every time she visits me.</span>
*我 <em>每次</em> 经过 这 家 店  <em>都</em> 要 进去 看看 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>měi cì</em> jīngguò zhè jiā diàn <em>dōu</em> yào jìnqù kànkan.</span><span class="trans">Every time I pass this shop, I go inside and take a look.</span>
+
*为什么 <em>每次</em> 我 来 他 <strong>都</strong> 不 在 ?<span class="pinyin">Wèishénme <em>měi cì</em> wǒ lái tā <strong>dōu</strong> bù zài?</span><span class="trans">How come he's not here every time I come?</span>
*<em>每次</em> 出去 吃饭 <em>都</em> 要 拍照 。<span class="pinyin"><em>měi cì</em> chūqù chīfàn <em>dōu</em> yào pāizhào.</span><span class="trans">Every time she eats out, she takes photos.</span>
+
*我 <em>每次</em> 玩 这个 游戏 <strong>都</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>měi cì</em> wán zhège yóuxì <strong>dōu</strong> shū.</span><span class="trans">Every time I play this game, I lose.</span>
*<em>每次</em> 编辑 <em>都</em> 要 保存 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Měi cì</em> biānjí <em>dōu</em> yào bǎocún.</span><span class="trans">Every time you edit, save it.</span>
+
*你 怎么 <em>每次</em> 吃 火锅 <strong>都</strong> 拉肚子 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zěnme <em>měicì</em> chī huǒguō <strong>dōu</strong> lādùzi?</span><span class="trans">How come you have diarrhea every time you eat hotpot?</span>
*我 <em>每次</em> 玩 这个 游戏 <em>都</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>měi cì</em> wán zhège yóuxì <em>dōu</em> shū.</span><span class="trans">Every time I play this game, I lose.</span>
+
*<em>每次</em> 迟到 <strong>都</strong> 说 因为 堵车 。<span class="pinyin"><em>měicì</em> chídào <strong>dōu</strong> shuō yīnwèi dǔchē.</span><span class="trans">Every time he's late, he says it's because of bad traffic.</span>
*我 姐姐 <em>每次</em> 换 工作 <em>都</em> 要 搬家 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ jiějie <em>měi cì</em> huàn gōngzuò <em>dōu</em> yào bānjiā.</span><span class="trans">Every time my elder sister starts a new job, she moves.</span>
+
*我 <em>每次</em> 经过 这 家 店 <strong>都</strong> 会 进去 看看 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>měi cì</em> jīngguò zhè jiā diàn <strong>dōu</strong> huì jìnqù kànkan.</span><span class="trans">Every time I pass this shop, I go inside and take a look.</span>
*<em>每次</em> 遇到 生词 <em>都</em> 要 查 字典 。<span class="pinyin"><em>měi cì</em> yùdào shēngcí <em>dōu</em> yào chá zìdiǎn.</span><span class="trans">Every time he comes across a new word, he looks it up in the dictionary.</span>
+
*我 妹妹 <em>每次</em> 打针 <strong>都</strong> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ mèimei <em>měicì</em> dǎzhēn <strong>dōu</strong> .</span><span class="trans">My little sister cries every time she has to get a shot.</span>
 
+
*<em>每次</em> 遇到 生词 <strong>都</strong> 要 查 字典 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Měi cì</em> yùdào shēngcí <strong>dōu</strong> yào chá zìdiǎn.</span><span class="trans">Every time he comes across a new word, he looks it up in the dictionary.</span>
</div>
+
*<em>每次</em> 编辑 <strong>都</strong> 要 保存 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Měi cì</em> biānjí <strong>dōu</strong> yào bǎocún.</span><span class="trans">Every time you edit, you need to save it.</span>
 
+
*爸爸 <em>每次</em> 出差 <strong>都</strong> 给 我 买 礼物 。<span class="pinyin">Bàba <em>měi cì</em> chūchāi <strong>dōu</strong> gěi wǒ mǎi lǐwù.</span><span class="trans">Dad buys presents for me every time he goes on business trips.</span>
== Every ==
 
 
 
=== Structure ===
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
Subj. + 每 + [Period of Time] + [Verb Phrase]
 
</div>
 
 
 
== Examples ==
 
  
<div class="liju">
 
*我 <em>每</em> <strong>两 年</strong> 换 一 个 手机 。<span class="trans">I buy a new cell phone every two years.</span>
 
*你 应该 <em>每</em> <strong>半 年</strong> 体检 一 次 。<span class="trans">You should take the physical examination every half a year.</span>
 
*<em>每</em> <strong>八 个 小时</strong> 充 一 次 电 。<span class="trans">Charge it every eight hours.</span>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Line 47: Line 32:
 
*[[Pronoun "mei" for "every"]]
 
*[[Pronoun "mei" for "every"]]
 
*[[Emphasising quantity with "dou"]]
 
*[[Emphasising quantity with "dou"]]
*[[Measure words for verbs]]
+
*[[Events in quick succession with "yi... jiu..."]]
  
 
== Sources and  further reading ==
 
== Sources and  further reading ==
Line 53: Line 38:
 
=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 87-8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
+
{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|87-8}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 267) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
+
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|267}}
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 284-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
+
{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|284-5}}
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
{{Similar|Measure Words for Verbs}}
+
{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
{{Similar|Emphasising quantity with "dou"}}
 
{{Similar|Emphasising quantity with "dou"}}
 
{{Similar|Pronoun "mei" for "every"}}
 
{{Similar|Pronoun "mei" for "every"}}
{{Similar|Expressing "all" with "shenme dou"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing "even" with "lian" and "dou"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing "everyone" with "shei"}}
 
 
{{Similar|Referring to "all" using "suoyou"}}
 
{{Similar|Referring to "all" using "suoyou"}}
{{Basic Grammar|每|B1|每⋯⋯都⋯⋯|<em>每</em> 次 <em>都</em> 不 在。|grammar point|ASGXHQEF}}
+
{{Similar|Events in quick succession with "yi... jiu..."}}
 +
{{Basic Grammar|每|B1|每次 + Event 1 + 都 + Event 2|为什么 <em>每</em> 次 <em>都</em> 不 在。|grammar point|ASGXHQEF}}
 
{{Rel char|都}}
 
{{Rel char|都}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
{{Used for| Expressing quantity}}
+
{{Subprop|Basic/Simple Sentence Patterns}}
 +
{{Used for|}}
 
{{Translation|every}}
 
{{Translation|every}}
 
{{Translation|all}}
 
{{Translation|all}}

Latest revision as of 08:53, 21 April 2021

每次⋯⋯ 都⋯⋯ (měi cì... dōu...) is a pattern used to express "every time." Translating from English, you might feel that the only part really needed is 每次 (měi cì), since it literally means "every time." This is incorrect! Not only is the adverb 都 (dōu) required, but it's arguably more vital than the 每次 (měi cì)! So it's important to get used to using both parts.

Structure

This pattern actually builds on the basic 每……都…… pattern, which you should already know. In this grammar structure, we go beyond just saying things like "every person" or "every day," and focus on what happens every time a certain action is done.

每次 + Event 1 + 都 + Event 2

Examples

  • 每次 来 我 家 带 花 。měi cì lái wǒ jiā dōu dài huā.She brings flowers every time she visits me.
  • 为什么 每次 我 来 他 不 在 ?Wèishénme měi cì wǒ lái tā dōu bù zài?How come he's not here every time I come?
  • 每次 玩 这个 游戏 输 。měi cì wán zhège yóuxì dōu shū.Every time I play this game, I lose.
  • 你 怎么 每次 吃 火锅 拉肚子 ?Nǐ zěnme měicì chī huǒguō dōu lādùzi?How come you have diarrhea every time you eat hotpot?
  • 每次 迟到 说 因为 堵车 。měicì chídào dōu shuō yīnwèi dǔchē.Every time he's late, he says it's because of bad traffic.
  • 每次 经过 这 家 店 会 进去 看看 。měi cì jīngguò zhè jiā diàn dōu huì jìnqù kànkan.Every time I pass this shop, I go inside and take a look.
  • 我 妹妹 每次 打针 哭 。Wǒ mèimei měicì dǎzhēn dōu kū.My little sister cries every time she has to get a shot.
  • 每次 遇到 生词 他 要 查 字典 。Měi cì yùdào shēngcí tā dōu yào chá zìdiǎn.Every time he comes across a new word, he looks it up in the dictionary.
  • 每次 编辑 要 保存 。Měi cì biānjí dōu yào bǎocún.Every time you edit, you need to save it.
  • 爸爸 每次 出差 给 我 买 礼物 。Bàba měi cì chūchāi dōu gěi wǒ mǎi lǐwù.Dad buys presents for me every time he goes on business trips.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books