měitiān: 每天 - Every Day, Daily

• Keywords: měitiān, 每天, every day in Chinese, daily Chinese, Chinese for every day, how to say everyday in Mandarin, Chinese time words, Chinese routines, Mandarin daily habits, HSK 1 vocabulary.
• Summary: Learn how to say “every day” in Chinese with the fundamental word 每天 (měitiān). This comprehensive guide for beginners covers the meaning, character breakdown, and cultural importance of routines in China. Discover practical example sentences and common mistakes to help you master this essential HSK 1 vocabulary for describing daily habits and schedules in Mandarin Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): měi tiān
• Part of Speech: Time word (functions as an adverb)
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: On each day; daily.
• In a Nutshell: 每天 (měitiān) is the most common and direct way to express the concept of “every day” in Chinese. It's a cornerstone of conversation, used to describe habits, routines, schedules, and any action or state that occurs on a daily basis. If you want to talk about your daily life, 每天 is one of the first words you'll need.

• 每 (měi): This character means “every” or “each”. It acts as a specifier, indicating that the noun following it applies to all instances. It's a key component in words like 每个人 (měi ge rén - every person) and 每年 (měi nián - every year).
• 天 (tiān): This character means “day” or “sky”. In this context, it clearly means “day”. It's one of the most basic and frequently used characters in the Chinese language.

Together, 每 (every) + 天 (day) form the logical and straightforward compound 每天, literally “every day”.

While 每天 is a simple time word, its frequent use touches upon the cultural value placed on routine, persistence, and diligence in Chinese society. The concept of 功夫 (gōngfu), often translated as “kung fu” but more accurately meaning skill acquired through great effort, is built on the principle of daily practice. Unlike in some Western cultures where “every day” might imply monotony, describing an activity with 每天 can often carry a subtle, positive connotation of discipline and commitment. For example, saying “他每天练习书法 (Tā měitiān liànxí shūfǎ - He practices calligraphy every day)” is not just a statement of fact, but also an expression of admiration for his dedication. This reflects a deep-seated belief that consistency and daily effort are the paths to mastery and self-improvement, a value instilled from a young age.

每天 is an extremely common word used in all contexts, from casual conversation to formal writing. Its primary function is to establish the frequency of an action. The most important grammar rule to remember is its placement in a sentence. Unlike in English, where “every day” often comes at the end, 每天 typically comes after the subject and before the verb. Correct Structure: Subject + 每天 + Verb + Object.

• Example: 我 每天 喝咖啡。 (Wǒ měitiān hē kāfēi.) - I drink coffee every day.

Incorrect Structure: 我喝咖啡每天。 (Wǒ hē kāfēi měitiān.) This structure is consistent for questions, negative statements, and complex sentences.

• Example 1:
  • 我每天早上七点起床。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ měitiān zǎoshang qī diǎn qǐchuáng.
  • English: I get up at 7 AM every day.
  • Analysis: A classic example of describing a daily routine. Note the time phrase (早上七点) comes right after 每天.
• Example 2:
  • 你每天都做什么？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ měitiān dōu zuò shénme?
  • English: What do you do every day?
  • Analysis: A common question to ask about someone's routine. The word 都 (dōu) is often added after 每天 for emphasis, similar to saying “What do you do *all* day, every day?”
• Example 3:
  • 爸爸每天开车上班。
  • Pinyin: Bàba měitiān kāichē shàngbān.
  • English: Dad drives to work every day.
  • Analysis: This sentence shows how 每天 is used to describe the habits of a third person.
• Example 4:
  • 这家商店每天都开门吗？
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā shāngdiàn měitiān dōu kāimén ma?
  • English: Is this store open every day?
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how to form a “yes/no” question using 吗 (ma) with 每天.
• Example 5:
  • 我不每天吃晚饭，因为我在减肥。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bù měitiān chī wǎnfàn, yīnwèi wǒ zài jiǎnféi.
  • English: I don't eat dinner every day because I'm on a diet.
  • Analysis: This shows a negative sentence structure. The negation 不 (bù) comes before 每天.
• Example 6:
  • 医生告诉他要每天运动。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng gàosù tā yào měitiān yùndòng.
  • English: The doctor told him he needs to exercise every day.
  • Analysis: Here, 每天 is part of a command or suggestion given by someone else.
• Example 7:
  • 每天学习一点中文，进步会很快。
  • Pinyin: Měitiān xuéxí yīdiǎn Zhōngwén, jìnbù huì hěn kuài.
  • English: If you study a little Chinese every day, your progress will be very fast.
  • Analysis: 每天 can also be placed at the very beginning of a sentence to emphasize the time frame.
• Example 8:
  • 他每天晚上都给女朋友打电话。
  • Pinyin: Tā měitiān wǎnshàng dōu gěi nǚpéngyǒu dǎ diànhuà.
  • English: He calls his girlfriend every evening.
  • Analysis: This sentence includes a more specific time (晚上 - evening) and the emphasis word 都 (dōu).
• Example 9:
  • 我的目标是每天读十页书。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de mùbiāo shì měitiān dú shí yè shū.
  • English: My goal is to read ten pages of a book every day.
  • Analysis: Used here to define a goal or objective related to a daily habit.
• Example 10:
  • 为什么你每天看起来都那么累？
  • Pinyin: Wèishéme nǐ měitiān kàn qǐlái dōu nàme lèi?
  • English: Why do you look so tired every day?
  • Analysis: A question expressing concern or observation about a daily state or appearance.

• Mistake 1: Sentence Placement
  • The most common error for English speakers is putting 每天 at the end of the sentence.
  • Incorrect: ~~我想你每天。~~ (Wǒ xiǎng nǐ měitiān.)
  • Correct: 我每天都想你。 (Wǒ měitiān dōu xiǎng nǐ.) - I miss you every day.
• 每天 (měitiān) vs. 天天 (tiāntiān)
  • These two words are very similar, but have a key difference in nuance.
  • 每天 (měitiān): This is the neutral, standard, and factual term for “every day”. It's appropriate for any situation, formal or informal.
    • Example: 银行每天九点开门。(Yínháng měitiān jiǔ diǎn kāimén.) - The bank opens at 9 AM every day. (A simple fact).
  • 天天 (tiāntiān): This is more colloquial and often carries more emotion or a sense of continuity. It can express enthusiasm, complaint, or just a very casual tone. It strongly emphasizes the unbroken, day-after-day nature of an activity.
    • Example: 我天天加班，快累死了！ (Wǒ tiāntiān jiābān, kuài lèi sǐ le!) - I work overtime every single day, I'm exhausted! (A complaint).
    • Example: 我们天天在一起，真开心！ (Wǒmen tiāntiān zài yīqǐ, zhēn kāixīn!) - We're together every single day, I'm so happy! (Enthusiasm).

• `* 天天 (tiāntiān)` - A colloquial synonym for 每天, often with a stronger emotional tone (positive or negative).
• `* 每周 (měi zhōu)` - Every week. Follows the same “每 + [time unit]” pattern.
• `* 每月 (měi yuè)` - Every month.
• `* 每年 (měi nián)` - Every year.
• `* 日常 (rìcháng)` - Daily; day-to-day. Used as an adjective, as in 日常生活 (rìcháng shēnghuó - daily life).
• `* 整天 (zhěngtiān)` - The whole day; all day long. This refers to duration within a single day, whereas 每天 refers to frequency across multiple days.
• `* 平时 (píngshí)` - Normally; usually. Describes what is typically done, which is similar to a daily routine but less strict than 每天.
• `* 常常 (chángcháng)` - Often; frequently. An adverb of frequency that is less frequent than 每天.
• `* 总是 (zǒngshì)` - Always. The highest level of frequency, implying something happens without exception in relevant situations.