Introduction
每次……都…… (měi cì … dōu …) links two events into a rule: whenever the first happens, the second follows. 每次去中国，我都买很多书。(Měi cì qù Zhōngguó, wǒ dōu mǎi hěn duō shū.) — Every time I go to China I buy a lot of books.
Overview
Structure: 每次 (měi cì) + [Event 1] + Subj. + 都 (dōu) + [Event 2]
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 每次 + E1，Subj + 都 + E2 | 每次去中国，我都买书。(Měi cì qù Zhōngguó, wǒ dōu mǎi shū.) | Every time I go to China I buy books. |
| Subj + 每次 + V + 都 … | 他每次来都带东西。(Tā měi cì lái dōu dài dōngxi.) | He brings something every time he comes. |
| 每次 + 都 + 不 / 没 | 他每次都不来。(Tā měi cì dōu bù lái.) | He never comes. |
| 每次……的时候 | 每次我学中文的时候…… (Měi cì wǒ xué Zhōngwén de shíhou …) | Every time I study Chinese… |
| 每次 alone | 每次都一样。(Měi cì dōu yíyàng.) | It's the same every time. |
都 (dōu) belongs to the second clause, never the first:
- ✓ 每次去中国，我都买书。(Měi cì qù Zhōngguó, wǒ dōu mǎi shū.)
- ❌ 每次都去中国，我买书。(Měi cì dōu qù Zhōngguó, wǒ mǎi shū.)
- 都 (dōu) looks backwards at 每次 (měi cì), so 每次 sets the condition and 都 sits in front of the verb it applies to.
- Dropping 都 is possible but leaves the sentence sounding incomplete, exactly as with 每 (měi) on its own.
Examples
每次去中国，我都买很多书。
Měi cì qù Zhōngguó, wǒ dōu mǎi hěn duō shū.
Every time I go to China I buy a lot of books.
他每次来都带水果。
Tā měi cì lái dōu dài shuǐguǒ.
He brings fruit every time he comes.
每次考试我都很紧张。
Měi cì kǎoshì wǒ dōu hěn jǐnzhāng.
I get nervous every time there's an exam.
他每次都不来。
Tā měi cì dōu bù lái.
He never comes.
每次下雨，路上都很堵。
Měi cì xià yǔ, lùshang dōu hěn dǔ.
Every time it rains the roads are jammed.
每次都一样，没有新东西。
Měi cì dōu yíyàng, méiyǒu xīn dōngxi.
It's the same every time; nothing new.
Usage Notes
- 次 (cì) is the measure word for occasions, so 每次 (měi cì) is literally "every occasion". It follows the same rule as 每个人 (měi ge rén) — 每 plus a measure word.
- 每次都不 (měi cì dōu bù) and 每次都没 (měi cì dōu méi) are how Chinese says "never": 他每次都不来。(Tā měi cì dōu bù lái.)
- The two clauses usually take a comma when the subject changes: 每次下雨，路上都很堵。(Měi cì xià yǔ, lùshang dōu hěn dǔ.)
- 每次 (měi cì) can be swapped for a specific event: 每天 (měi tiān)、每年 (měi nián)、每个星期 (měi ge xīngqī). The 都 stays.
- Compare 一……就…… (yī … jiù …), which says the second event follows immediately. 每次……都…… says only that it always follows.