Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 毎 | mai- | [ma̠i] (narrow) | prefix |
| 全ての | subete no | ||
| 各々 | onoono | [o̞no̞ o̞no̞] (narrow) | |
| …毎に | …goto ni | ||
| 各 | kaku | [ka̠kɯ̟] (narrow) |
The word 'every' has several different forms in Japanese. The prefix 毎 is used strictly for recurring time intervals, such as 'every day' or 'every year'. Because of this restriction, you cannot use 毎 for non-temporal intervals like 'every person' or 'every book'.
Which one should you use?
The different forms of 'every' are chosen based on what you want to emphasize. While 全ての (subete no) and 毎 (mai) can both be translated as 'every' in English, 全ての emphasizes the totality of a group (all), whereas 毎 emphasizes the regularity of an interval. Additionally, 各 (kaku) is used to mean 'each' or 'every' when the focus is on the individual members of a group rather than the group as a whole.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form 毎 functions as a prefix that is attached directly to time-related nouns like day, week or year. To express 'every [interval]' when the interval is a noun like 'two years' or 'three meters', use the form …毎に. To say 'every two days', you would use the phrase 二日に一度.
How do you pronounce it?
mai-
Did you know?
- While 毎 expresses 'every' in time, the word 毎度 (maido) is used in the Osaka region as a friendly greeting meaning 'thanks for your business'.
- The word 各々 (onoonono) is a reduplication of the word for 'self', meaning the phrase literally translates to 'each self'.
- The phrase 毎に can be applied to non-time measurements, such as distance, meaning it can describe things happening 'every few meters'.
Examples in context
- 毎年行きます。I go every year.This sentence shows how to use 毎 to talk about yearly occurrences.Tatoeba #81243 by bunbuku, translation #322472 by CK
- 毎年同じだよ。It's the same every year.This sentence uses 毎 to describe something that stays the same every year.Tatoeba #10531344 by small_snow, translation #6029150 by Huskion
- 毎晩電話するよ。I'll give you a ring every night.This sentence demonstrates the use of 毎 for a nightly habit.Tatoeba #81225 by bunbuku, translation #322490 by sundown
- 毎日午前9時にジョギングします。I go jogging every day at 9 a.m.
- 825 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Misaki are talking about their study habits.
- 健太 Kenta美咲さんは毎朝、勉強していますか？Misaki-san wa maiasa, benkyō shite imasu ka?Misaki, do you study every morning?
- 美咲 Misakiはい、毎朝一時間は勉強しています。Hai, maiasa ichi-jikan wa benkyō shite imasu.Yes, I study for one hour every morning.
- 健太 Kentaすごいですね。僕も毎日頑張ります。Sugoi desu ne. Boku mo mainichi ganbarimasu.That's amazing. I will also do my best every day.
- 美咲 Misaki健太さんも、一緒に頑張りましょう！Kenta-san mo, issho ni ganbarimashō!Let's do our best together, Kenta!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “every” translations and entries 毎, 各々, 各, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 各々, 毎, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
