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 and 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

  • 遇到 一 个 问题 要 记 下来 。 měi yùdào yī gè wèntí dōu yào jì xiàlái. Every time he comes across a problem, he needs to write it down.
  • 一 个 地方 要 拍照 。 měi yī gè dìfang dōu yào pāizhào. Every time she visits some place, she takes photos.
  • 拍 完 一部 电影 要 休息 一个月 。 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 , 写 完 一 篇 文章 要 保存 。 Jìzhù, měi xiě wán yī piān wénzhāng dōu yào bǎocún. Remember, every time you finish writing an article, save it.
  • 一 个 工作 , 要 搬家 。 měi huàn yī gè gōngzuò, dōu yào bānjiā. Every time he starts a new job, he moves.
  • 为什么 我 一 件 事 , 你 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

Sources and further reading

Books