每

Every

Level 2Sounds Like mui5

每 (mui5) expresses 'every' or 'each'. In Cantonese sentences, whenever you use 每 with a subject or time expression, you must usually pair it with 都 (dou1) right before the verb.

How It Works

1. How to structure 每 (mui5)
When using 每 (mui5) to mean 'every' or 'each', Cantonese combines it with classifiers or time units:
• With countable nouns: 每 + Classifier + Noun (e.g. 每本書 mui5 bun2 syu1 - every book, 每個人 mui5 go3 jan4 - every person).
• With time units: Self-classifying time nouns such as 日 (jat6, day), 年 (nin4, year), and 晚 (maan5, night) take 每 directly (e.g. 每日 mui5 jat6 - every day, 每年 mui5 nin4 - every year). However, time words like 月 (jyut6, month) and 星期/禮拜 (sing1 kei4 / lai5 baai3, week) can take the classifier 個 (go3) (e.g. 每個月 mui5 go3 jyut6 - every month; 每月 mui5 jyut6 is just as common).
• With numbers: 每 + Number + Classifier + Noun (e.g. 每兩個月 mui5 loeng5 go3 jyut6 - every two months).

2. Pairing with 都 (dou1) in Declarative Sentences
In declarative statements, 每 sets up a distributive subject or time frame ('every X'), and Cantonese usually requires the preverbal adverb 都 (dou1) ('all / in all cases') before the predicate (e.g. 每個人都嚟咗 mui5 go3 jan4 dou1 lai4 zo2 - everyone came).

Note on exceptions: 都 is omitted in non-declarative contexts such as imperatives or direct distribution (e.g. 每人攞一個 mui5 jan4 lo2 jat1 go3 - each person take one).

3. Unit Pricing (每 + Classifier + Price)
每 is commonly used in shop or market settings to express 'per [unit]' without using 都:
• 每 + Classifier + Price (e.g. 每盒四十蚊 mui5 hap6 sei3 sap6 man1 - $40 per box).
• 每日五十蚊 mui5 jat6 ng5 sap6 man1 - $50 per day.

4. 每 (mui5) vs. Classifier Reduplication (e.g. 個個 go3 go3)
Cantonese often duplicates classifiers to mean 'every' (e.g. 個個人 go3 go3 jan4 - everyone). Classifier reduplication is highly colloquial and carries an emphatic nuance of 'every single one without exception'. 每 is more structured and is required when specifying explicit numbers or intervals (e.g. 每三個星期 mui5 saam1 go3 sing1 kei4 - every three weeks).

Examples (4)

  1. 每個人都嚟咗。

    Everyone came.

    Word by Word: Every classifier person all came already

    Uses 每 (mui5) with the general classifier 個 (go3) and pairs with 都 (dou1) before the verb.

  2. 佢每日都去跑步。

    She goes running every day.

    Word by Word: She every day all goes running

    Time words like 日 (jat6, day) take 每 directly without requiring a classifier.

  3. 呢度每本書都好有意思。

    Every book here is very interesting.

    Word by Word: Here every classifier book all very have meaning

    Countable nouns like 書 (syu1, book) must take their standard classifier 本 (bun2) after 每.

  4. 我哋每兩個星期開一次會。

    We have a meeting every two weeks.

    Word by Word: We every two classifier week open one time meeting

    When specifying numerical intervals, insert the number and classifier directly after 每.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out 都 (dou1) in general declarative sentences

    Different Meaning每個禮拜我去睇戲。
    每個禮拜我都去睇戲。

    The sentence without 都 is fine. With 每, 都 (dou1) before the verb is very common and stresses 'every single time'.

  • Leaving out the classifier between a number and 月

    每三月我都去旅行。
    每三個月我都去旅行。

    With a number, 月 (jyut6) needs the classifier 個 (go3): 三月 means March, but 三個月 means three months. Alone after 每, both 每月 and 每個月 are fine.

  • Forgetting the classifier between 每 and a standard countable noun

    每書都好睇。
    每本書都好睇。

    Countable nouns like 書 (syu1) require a classifier (like 本 (bun2)) directly after 每.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

每Level 2Every

Learn This First

To use '每' (every) correctly, you need to know how to use classifiers, as '每' cannot be used with a noun alone. Additionally, you must understand the role of '都' (all/also), which acts as a mandatory partner to '每' in most sentences to complete the meaning of 'every'.

Words in This Pattern