Japanese kanji 毎: every, readings and words

The idea

毎 has 6 strokes. Follow the linked stroke-order diagram. 毎日 is read まいにち and means every day; 毎朝 is read まいあさ and means every morning. 毎週 is read まいしゅう: every week.

Examples

• 毎朝まいあさ水みずを飲のみます。I drink water every morning.
• 毎日まいにち音楽おんがくを聞ききます。I listen to music every day.
• 毎週まいしゅう日曜日にちようびに友達ともだちと会あいます。I meet a friend every Sunday.
• 毎晩まいばんお茶ちゃを飲のみます。I drink tea every evening.
• 毎月まいつき母ははに電話でんわします。I call my mother every month.
• 毎朝まいあさ駅えきまで歩あるきます。I walk to the station every morning.

Watch out

Compare 毎 with 母; notice their different parts and strokes rather than guessing from the overall shape. Time expressions such as 毎日 and 毎朝 normally do not take に. 毎月 can also be read まいげつ.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 毎日 in hiragana.

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   まいにち

   毎日 is read まいにち; it means every day. Remember the reading with the whole word.

2. Write the reading of 毎朝 in hiragana.

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   まいあさ

   毎朝 is read まいあさ; it means every morning. Remember the reading with the whole word.

3. Write まいしゅう in kanji for “every week”.

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   毎週

   毎週 is written with 毎 and read まいしゅう; it means every week.

Use it today

Write 毎 three times using the linked stroke order. Cover the table, read 毎日 and 毎朝, and make a sentence with one of them.