Guess You Don’t Know: A Comparative Look at 每 and 各
When delving into the intricacies of Mandarin Chinese, learners often encounter pairs of terms that, at first glance, seem to serve similar functions but, upon closer inspection, reveal subtle differences that significantly impact their usage and meaning. Among such pairs, 每 (měi) and 各 (gè) stand out for their frequent use in denoting quantities and distributions. This blog post aims to shed light on these two characters, exploring their unique features, applications, and the nuanced distinctions between them.
1.每 měi
It is a term that expresses uniformity over the nouns it precedes. It translates closely to "every" or "each" in English, imparting a sense of inclusivity and regularity. When 每 is used, it implies that the statement applies uniformly to all members within a specified group without exception.
Examples:
每个人都需要水 (Měi gè rén dōu xūyào shuǐ。- Every person needs water.)
每个人都应该遵守法律。（Měi gè rén dōu yīnggāi zūnshǒu fǎlǜ.- Everyone should obey the law.）
每个人都应该尊敬师长。(Měi gè rén dōu yīnggāi zūnjìng shīzhǎng.- Everyone should respect their elders and teachers.)
Here, it ensures that the need for water is a universal attribute shared by all individuals without distinction. This character is particularly useful when emphasizing regularity or consistency, such as in 每天 (měi tiān) for "every day" or 每年 (měi nián) for "every year," suggesting a continuous, unvarying pattern. And it is often used with the word”都” to imply uniformity.
2.各 gè
This word is a character that celebrates diversity and individuality within a group. Often translated as "each" or "various," it highlights the individual members of a group, acknowledging their separate identities or contributions. It carries a nuance of distribution or variety, suggesting that while an action or characteristic applies to all members of a group, it does so individually rather than collectively.
Examples:
各班都有不同的老师。(Gè bān dōu yǒu bùtóng de lǎoshī。- Each class has different teacher for their own.)
各个学生都有自己的爱好。（Gè gè xuéshēng dōu yǒu zìjǐ de àihào.- Each student has their own hobbies.）
各个国家都有自己的国旗。（Gè gè guójiā dōu yǒu zìjǐ de guóqí.- Each country has its own national flag.）
This phrase appreciates the unique strengths of individuals within a group, emphasizing diversity and individual contributions. 各 is also commonly used in contexts where distribution or allocation is involved.
While both 每 and 各 can be translated to "each" or "every" in English, their contextual applications in Mandarin reveal the depth of their distinctions. 每 is your go-to character when you wish to stress uniformity, regularity, or an all-encompassing statement. It's about consistency across the board, without singling out individual members of the group.
各, however, is the character of choice when the intent is to highlight individual differences or separate instances within a group. It's about acknowledging that while something applies to all, it does so in a manner that respects their individuality or distinct situations.
In the journey of mastering Mandarin Chinese, understanding the subtle distinctions between terms like 每 and 各 is crucial. While they both deal with quantities and groups, their usage is dictated by the context and the specific nuance the speaker wishes to convey. By grasping these nuances, learners can enrich their linguistic repertoire, enabling more precise and effective communication in Mandarin.
Understood these two words better? Why not try booking our online or in-person classes and get more insightful materials for learning Chinese from our best teachers? Book your 30 minutes free trial and start your Mandarin journey and speak Mandarin in 30 days with Dao mandarin now!