4 · Nouns, numbers and measure words
Every one: doubled measure words
reduplication meaning each and every
A measure word or a one-syllable noun said twice means every one of them, usually with dōu after it.
Say a measure word twice and it means “every single one”: 个个, every one, 件件, every piece, 张张, every sheet. A handful of one-syllable nouns that behave like measure words double in the same way: 人人, everybody, 天天, every day, 年年, every year, 家家, every household, 样样, every kind.
The doubled word stands before the verb — as the subject, or as a time word — and it is almost always followed by 都, which gathers up “all of them”: 他的孩子个个都很可爱, every one of his children is lovely. Notice that the noun usually comes first and the doubled measure word after it.
It cannot be the object of a verb. “I know everybody” is not “I know rénrén”; after the verb Chinese uses 每 + measure word + noun: 我认识每个人. 每 is the neutral, all-purpose “every”; the doubled form is more vivid and stresses “without a single exception”, which is why it is common in praise, in complaints and in descriptions.
Only one-syllable words double this way. Two-syllable nouns never do — there is no “xuésheng xuésheng” for “every student” — and most one-syllable nouns do not either. Learn the doubled forms as words. A related pattern repeats 一 with the measure word: 一个一个, one after another, 一步一步, step by step.
The form
| every one of them | 个个都… |
| everybody | 人人都知道 |
| every day | 天天加班 |
| every single item | 件件都很贵 |
| one after another | 一个一个地 |
| the neutral way | 每个人都… |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is aboutThe word that calls for it
A doubled measure word means every single one.
这些苹果个个都很甜。Every one of these apples is sweet.
A few one-syllable nouns double in the same way: 人人, 天天, 年年, 家家.
这儿的夏天天天下雨。Here it rains every day in summer.
The doubled word stands before the verb, usually with 都.
这件事人人都知道。Everybody knows about this.
After the verb, as an object, use 每 instead.
老师认识每个学生。The teacher knows every student.
一 + measure word, said twice, means one after another.
学生一个一个地走进教室。The students came into the classroom one by one.
A closer look
Which words can be doubled
Almost any one-syllable measure word can be doubled: 本本, 条条, 句句. Among nouns, only a short list does it — 人, 天, 年, 家, 事, 处 (place) and a few more — and they are best learned as set words. An ordinary noun such as 书 or 车 cannot be doubled to mean “every”; it needs 每 and its measure word.
The doubled forms have a slightly vivid, sometimes literary ring, and many set phrases use them: 处处, everywhere, 事事, in everything. In plain speech 每 … 都 says the same thing more neutrally, and it is the form to reach for when you are not sure.
Exceptions and special cases (1)
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the doubled word is a time word such as 天天 or 年年
都 can be left out.
他天天加班。He works late every day.
The time word sets the frame for the whole sentence, and the habit is clear without a word summing it up.
How to spot it
- 个个
- 人人
- 天天
- 都
- 每
Example sentences
他的三个孩子个个都喜欢弹钢琴。All three of his children love playing the piano.
她天天骑自行车上班。She cycles to work every day.
春节的时候家家都贴春联。At Spring Festival every household puts up couplets.
他写的文章篇篇都很精彩。Every article he writes is excellent.
这儿的衣服件件都很漂亮。Every piece of clothing here is beautiful.
我爷爷年年都去海边过冬。Every year my grandfather spends the winter by the sea.
8 more example sentences
这几张照片张张都拍得很好。Every one of these photos is well taken.
我们队的队员个个都很高。Every player on our team is tall.
人人都有自己的习惯。Everyone has their own habits.
他说的话句句都是真的。Every word he said was true.
她事事都要自己做。She insists on doing everything herself.
我给每个同事都买了一份礼物。I bought a present for every colleague.
我们要一步一步来。We have to take it step by step.
这条街上的饭馆家家都很忙。Every restaurant on this street is busy.
Worth knowing (1)
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Day by day: yì tiān yì tiān
一 + noun, said twice, describes a slow change: 一天一天, day by day, 一年一年, year by year. It stands before the verb and often goes with a verb of growing or changing.
孩子一天一天长大了。Day by day the child grew up.
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
“Everybody” can be an object in English, so it seems natural to put 人人 after the verb. But a doubled form can only stand before the verb, where 都 can sum it up. After the verb, “every” is 每 with its measure word.
Doubled means every one — before the verb, with dōu; after the verb, use měi.
Your turn
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