每 vs 各: what is the difference?
每 goes through the members one by one, in everyday speech. 各 stresses that they are separate and different, and sounds formal. 每个国家 is each country, and 各国 is the countries, each with its own character.
| Word | Pinyin | What it does | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 每 | měi | Means each one, picking out every member of a group. | 每 + measure word / time word + noun + 都 + verb |
| 各 | gè | Means each of several separate members, in formal or fixed phrases. | 各 + measure word / noun (各国, 各种, 各位) |
每 (měi)
Means each one, picking out every member of a group.
Structure: 每 + measure word / time word + noun + 都 + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我每天早上跑步半个小时。 | Wǒ měi tiān zǎo shàng pǎo bù bàn gè xiǎo shí. | I run for half an hour every morning. |
| 每个星期天，我们都去看奶奶。 | Měi gè xīng qī tiān, wǒ men dōu qù kàn nǎi nǎi. | Every Sunday we go to see grandma. |
| 每次考试以前，他都很紧张。 | Měi cì kǎo shì yǐ qián, tā dōu hěn jǐn zhāng. | Before every exam he is nervous. |
Not: 每个学生喜欢这位老师。 A 每 sentence needs 都 before the verb: 每个学生都喜欢这位老师.
各 (gè)
Means each of several separate members, in formal or fixed phrases.
Structure: 各 + measure word / noun (各国, 各种, 各位)
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 各个国家的饮食习惯都不一样。 | Gè gè guó jiā de yǐn shí xí guàn dōu bù yí yàng. | The eating habits of each country are different. |
| 会议室里放着各种饮料。 | Huì yì shì lǐ fàng zhe gè zhǒng yǐn liào. | There are all kinds of drinks in the meeting room. |
| 同学们来自各国，大家都说汉语。 | Tóng xué men lái zì gè guó, dà jiā dōu shuō hàn yǔ. | The students come from various countries and all speak Chinese. |
Not: 各书都很贵。 各 does not attach to any bare noun; use a set form such as 各种书.
Where this comes from
The comparison is part of Inclusive Pronouns: 各, 每, 任何 (HSK 3) in the grammar reference, which has the full explanation, more worked examples, and what to learn before and after it.
More pairs: 才 vs 就 · 朝 vs 向 · 从 vs 自从 · 大概 vs 恐怕 · 得很 vs 极了 · 光 vs 只 · 互相 vs 相互 · 叫 vs 让 · 听不懂 vs 没听懂 · 需要 vs 要 · 因为 vs 为了 · 只有…才 vs 只要…就 · all 81 pairs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 每 and 各?
每 goes through the members one by one, in everyday speech. 各 stresses that they are separate and different, and sounds formal. 每个国家 is each country, and 各国 is the countries, each with its own character.
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