měi ge yuè: 每个月 - Every Month, Monthly

• Keywords: meigeyue, 每个月, every month in Chinese, monthly Chinese, how to say monthly in Chinese, Chinese time words, Chinese measure words, Chinese frequency, HSK 2 vocabulary, 每 in Chinese
• Summary: Learn how to say “every month” in Chinese with the essential phrase 每个月 (měi ge yuè). This guide breaks down the characters, explains the crucial grammatical pattern of using a measure word with 每 (měi), and provides numerous practical examples for talking about salaries, rent, and monthly routines. Understanding 每个月 is a key step for any beginner wanting to discuss schedules and frequency in Mandarin Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): měi ge yuè
• Part of Speech: Time Noun / Adverbial Phrase
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: A phrase used to express the frequency of “every month” or “each month.”
• In a Nutshell: 每个月 (měi ge yuè) is the most common and direct way to say “every month” in Chinese. It's a fundamental building block for talking about anything that happens on a monthly basis. It follows a simple, yet vital, Chinese grammar pattern: 每 (every) + Measure Word (个) + Noun (月).

• 每 (měi): This character means “every” or “each.” It is the key component for expressing recurring frequency for any unit of time or group of items.
• 个 (ge): This is the most common and all-purpose measure word in Mandarin. While English says “every month,” Chinese requires a counter between “every” and “month.” Think of it as “every single month” or “each one of the months.” Its inclusion is grammatically essential.
• 月 (yuè): This character means “month” and its original form was a pictogram of the crescent moon, as ancient calendars were based on lunar cycles.

These three characters combine literally to mean “every single month,” forming the standard phrase for “monthly.”

While “every month” is a universal concept, the structure of 每个月 (měi ge yuè) reveals a core principle of the Chinese language: the necessity of measure words. In English, we can simply say “every day,” “every person,” or “every month.” In Chinese, you almost always need a measure word between 每 (měi) and the noun. This reflects a linguistic tendency in Chinese to quantify or classify nouns explicitly.

• Western Comparison: An English speaker might find the 个 (ge) redundant, like saying “every one month.” However, for a native Chinese speaker, omitting it (saying `*每 月`) sounds incomplete and unnatural in most conversational contexts. Learning this `每 + Measure Word + Noun` pattern is crucial for sounding fluent and is more important than memorizing complex cultural philosophies. It applies to nearly everything:
  • 每天 (měi tiān) - Every day (天 is an exception that doesn't always need a measure word)
  • 每个人 (měi ge rén) - Every person
  • 每年 (měi nián) - Every year (年 is another common exception)
  • 每个星期 (měi ge xīngqī) - Every week

Understanding this structure is a gateway to mastering Chinese time and frequency expressions.

每个月 is a high-frequency phrase used in all aspects of modern life. It is neutral in formality and can be used with friends, family, colleagues, or in official documents.

• Finances: This is one of the most common contexts.
  • Paying rent: `交房租 (jiāo fángzū)`
  • Receiving a salary: `发工资 (fā gōngzī)`
  • Paying utility bills: `付水电费 (fù shuǐdiànfèi)`
  • Monthly budget: `每个月的预算 (měi ge yuè de yùsuàn)`
• Work and School:
  • Monthly meetings: `每个月开会 (měi ge yuè kāihuì)`
  • Monthly reports: `月度报告 (yuèdù bàogào)` or `每个月的报告 (měi ge yuè de bàogào)`
  • Monthly exams: `月考 (yuèkǎo)`
• Personal Life:
  • Gym memberships: `健身房会员费 (jiànshēnfáng huìyuánfèi)`
  • Subscriptions (magazines, streaming services): `订阅 (dìngyuè)`
  • Regular appointments or check-ups: `每个月体检一次 (měi ge yuè tǐjiǎn yí cì)`

The phrase is typically placed after the subject and before the verb to establish the timeframe of the action.

• Example 1:
  • 我们公司每个月15号发工资。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī měi ge yuè shíwǔ hào fā gōngzī.
  • English: Our company pays salaries on the 15th of every month.
  • Analysis: A classic example related to work and finances. The time phrase `每个月15号` comes directly after the subject `我们公司` and before the verb phrase `发工资`.
• Example 2:
  • 我每个月都要交房租和水电费。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ měi ge yuè dōu yào jiāo fángzū hé shuǐdiànfèi.
  • English: I have to pay rent and utilities every month.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses `都要 (dōu yào)` to emphasize that this is a recurring and unavoidable obligation that happens every single month.
• Example 3:
  • 你每个月看几本书？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ měi ge yuè kàn jǐ běn shū?
  • English: How many books do you read every month?
  • Analysis: This shows how to use the phrase in a question to ask about the frequency of an activity within a monthly period.
• Example 4:
  • 这家健身房的会员费每个月五百块。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiā jiànshēnfáng de huìyuánfèi měi ge yuè wǔbǎi kuài.
  • English: The membership fee for this gym is 500 RMB per month.
  • Analysis: Here, `每个月` functions similarly to “per month” in English, stating a recurring cost.
• Example 5:
  • 我爸爸每个月都给我打电话。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bàba měi ge yuè dōu gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.
  • English: My dad calls me every month.
  • Analysis: `都 (dōu)` is often paired with `每 (měi)` to add emphasis, reinforcing the idea that the action happens consistently in *every single* one of those periods.
• Example 6:
  • 我们部门每个月有一次团队建设活动。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen bùmén měi ge yuè yǒu yí cì tuánduì jiànshè huódòng.
  • English: Our department has one team-building activity every month.
  • Analysis: This sentence structure `(time) +有 + (number) + 次 + (event)` is very common for describing scheduled events. `一次 (yí cì)` means “one time” or “once.”
• Example 7:
  • 这个杂志是每个月出版一次吗？
  • Pinyin: Zhège zázhì shì měi ge yuè chūbǎn yí cì ma?
  • English: Is this magazine published once a month?
  • Analysis: A good example of a yes/no question using `是…吗 (shì…ma)`.
• Example 8:
  • 我计划每个月存一千块钱。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ jìhuà měi ge yuè cún yìqiān kuài qián.
  • English: I plan to save 1,000 RMB every month.
  • Analysis: Shows how the phrase can be used to talk about future plans, goals, and resolutions.
• Example 9:
  • 他每个月要去医院做一次检查。
  • Pinyin: Tā měi ge yuè yào qù yīyuàn zuò yí cì jiǎnchá.
  • English: He has to go to the hospital for a check-up once every month.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates its use for recurring appointments or health-related routines.
• Example 10:
  • 每个月的生活费差不多要三千块。
  • Pinyin: Měi ge yuè de shēnghuófèi chàbuduō yào sānqiān kuài.
  • English: The living expenses for each month are about 3,000 RMB.
  • Analysis: In this case, `每个月` starts the sentence to establish the topic being discussed—the costs associated with a typical month.

• Forgetting the Measure Word `个 (ge)`: This is the most common mistake for beginners.
  • Incorrect: `我 *每月* 去看电影。(Wǒ měi yuè qù kàn diànyǐng.)`
  • Correct: `我 每个月 去看电影。(Wǒ měi ge yuè qù kàn diànyǐng.)`
  • Reason: In spoken, everyday Chinese, omitting `个 (ge)` sounds unnatural and grammatically incomplete. Always include it in conversation.
• `每个月 (měi ge yuè)` vs. `每月 (měi yuè)`:
  • 每个月 (měi ge yuè): Standard, common, used in both spoken and written Chinese. This should be your default choice.
  • 每月 (měi yuè): A more formal, abbreviated form. You will see this in writing, especially on signs, in contracts, or in formal reports. For example, a sign might say `停车费: 每月300元` (Parking fee: 300 RMB/month). As a learner, it's good to recognize `每月`, but you should use `每个月` in your own speaking and writing.
• Sentence Placement: Remember that time phrases like `每个月` almost always come after the subject and before the verb.
  • Correct: `他 每个月 读一本书。 (Tā měi ge yuè dú yì běn shū.)`
  • Incorrect: `他读一本书每个月。 (Tā dú yì běn shū měi ge yuè.)`

• 每天 (měi tiān) - Every day. Follows the same frequency pattern.
• 每年 (měi nián) - Every year. Another essential time frequency word.
• 每个星期 (měi ge xīngqī) - Every week. Note the use of `个`. You may also hear `每周 (měi zhōu)`.
• 上个月 (shàng ge yuè) - Last month. A relative time word.
• 下个月 (xià ge yuè) - Next month. The counterpart to last month.
• 这个月 (zhè ge yuè) - This month. Refers to the current month.
• 月薪 (yuèxīn) - Monthly salary. A specific noun related to monthly income.
• 月度 (yuèdù) - Monthly (adjective). A more formal term used before a noun, as in `月度会议 (yuèdù huìyì)` - monthly meeting.
• 一次 (yí cì) - Once; one time. A frequency measure word often used with `每个月` to specify how many times an action occurs.