Lessons 1, 2, 4, 8: Words for “all”: 一切, 各, 每, 任何

Usage and differences of the words for "all, every, each": 一切, 各, 每, 任何.

Hanyu textbook · Hanyu 5 · Lesson 1 · Hanyu 5 · Lesson 2 · Hanyu 5 · Lesson 4 · Hanyu 5 · Lesson 8

刚来时是有很多地方不习惯，但是现在一切都习惯了。

Gāng lái shí shì yǒu hěn duō dìfang bù xíguàn, dànshì xiànzài yíqiè dōu xíguàn le.

When I first arrived there were many things I wasn't used to, but now I'm used to everything.

Explanation

一切 is a pronoun meaning the whole of something, all kinds; it is often used together with 都. When it serves as an attributive modifying a noun, it cannot be combined with 的.

各 refers to every individual within a certain scope and is placed before a noun or measure word. Comparing 各 and 每: (A) Both refer to every individual, but the emphasis differs: 每 points to each one specifically (distributive), while 各 refers generally (all-inclusive). (B) 各 can be placed directly before some nouns, while 每 before a noun must be accompanied by a measure word or a number-measure phrase (except for 人、家、年、月、日、天、星期、周): you say 各国、各学校、各医院、各单位, not 每国、每学校…, but 每个国家、每个学校… (C) 各 can only be followed by a few measure words, whereas 每 can be followed by any measure word; 每 can combine with number-measure phrases, but 各 cannot.

任何 is a pronoun used as an attributive, meaning any (person or thing); it often goes with 都/也.

Structure

1
一切都…/ 一切N (không có 的)
As a subject, it is usually used with 都; as an attributive before a noun, it does not take 的.
- 从去年夏天起，我就忙着联系学校，办各种手续，可是，这一切都是瞒着我的父母做的。
  Cóng qùnián xiàtiān qǐ, wǒ jiù máng zhe liánxì xuéxiào, bàn gè zhǒng shǒuxù, kěshì, zhè yíqiè dōu shì mán zhe wǒ de fùmǔ zuò de.
  Since last summer I have been busy contacting schools and handling all kinds of procedures, but I have kept all of this from my parents.
- 我一切手续都办好了，就等机票了。
  Wǒ yíqiè shǒuxù dōu bànhǎo le, jiù děng jīpiào le.
  I've finished all the procedures and am just waiting for the plane ticket.
- 刚来时是有很多地方不习惯，但是现在一切都习惯了。
  Gāng lái shí shì yǒu hěn duō dìfang bù xíguàn, dànshì xiànzài yíqiè dōu xíguàn le.
  When I first arrived there were many things I wasn't used to, but now I'm used to everything.
- 这里的一切对我来说，都是那么有趣。
  Zhèlǐ de yíqiè duì wǒ lái shuō, dōu shì nàme yǒuqù.
  Everything here is so interesting to me.
2
各N / 每量词Nnoun
各 goes directly before certain nouns (各国, 各班, 各地); 每 must be accompanied by a measure word (except for 人、家、年、月、日、天、星期、周).
- 能认识这么多世界各国来的朋友，我感到非常高兴。
  Néng rènshi zhème duō shìjiè gè guó lái de péngyou, wǒ gǎndào fēicháng gāoxìng.
  I feel very happy to get to know so many friends from all the countries of the world.
- 每天都有全国各地的旅游者来这里参观。
  Měitiān dōu yǒu quánguó gè dì de lǚyóuzhě lái zhèlǐ cānguān.
  Every day there are tourists from all over the country visiting here.
- 请各班同学快上车，我们马上就要出发了。
  Qǐng gè bān tóngxué kuài shàng chē, wǒmen mǎshàng jiù yào chūfā le.
  Students of every class, please get on the bus quickly; we are about to set off.
- 每个人都有自己的爱好。
  Měi ge rén dōu yǒu zìjǐ de àihào.
  Everyone has their own interests.
- 每星期有一次太极拳课。
  Měi xīngqī yǒu yí cì tàijíquán kè.
  There is one tai chi class every week.
- 她穿的每件衣服都很漂亮。
  Tā chuān de měi jiàn yīfu dōu hěn piàoliang.
  Every outfit she wears looks great.
3
任何Nnoun都 / 也…
"Any", used as an attributive, and usually goes with 都/也.
- 我当然也很喜欢她。但我从没有跟别人说过，也没有向她做过任何表示。
  Wǒ dāngrán yě hěn xǐhuan tā. Dàn wǒ cóng méiyǒu gēn biérén shuō guo, yě méiyǒu xiàng tā zuò guo rènhé biǎoshì.
  Of course I like her very much too. But I have never told anyone, nor have I ever shown her any sign of it.
- 只要你想干成一件事，任何困难都不要怕。
  Zhǐyào nǐ xiǎng gànchéng yí jiàn shì, rènhé kùnnan dōu búyào pà.
  As long as you want to get something done, don't be afraid of any difficulty.
- 做任何事情都不可能随随便便成功。
  Zuò rènhé shìqing dōu bù kěnéng suísuí-biànbiàn chénggōng.
  You can't succeed casually at anything you do.

Usage notes

各 + 国/班/地/学校/医院/单位 (placed directly before the noun); 每 must be accompanied by a measure word: 每个国家, 每个学校, 每个医院, 每个单位.
各 can only be followed by a few measure words; 每 can be followed by any measure word, and 每 can combine with number-measure phrases, but 各 cannot.

Common mistakes

~~一切的困难我都不怕。~~
一切困难我都不怕。
When 一切 is an attributive, 的 is not used.
~~各个国都有不同的习惯。~~
各国都有不同的习惯和想法。
各 goes directly with 国; 个 is not needed.
~~各个人都有自己的爱好。~~
每个人都有自己的爱好。
每 + 个 + 人; you can't say 各个人.
~~各星期有一次太极拳课。~~
每星期有一次太极拳课。
星期 goes with 每, not with 各.
~~她穿的各件衣服都很漂亮。~~
她穿的每件衣服都很漂亮。
各 goes with only a few measure words; 每 can be used with any measure word.
~~这是很当然的事，各国人都会这样。~~
这是很自然的事，哪国人都会这样。
The textbook corrects it to 自然 and 哪国人 (any country).

Practice

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