měirì: 每日 - Daily, Every Day

• Keywords: 每日, měi rì, every day in Chinese, daily Chinese, meitian vs meiri, Chinese for daily, formal Chinese, written Chinese, everyday Chinese words, HSK 4 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn how to use 每日 (měi rì), the Chinese term for “daily” or “every day.” This page breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and practical use. Discover why 每日 is more common in written and formal contexts, like news headlines and business reports, and how it differs from the more colloquial 每天 (měitiān). With detailed example sentences and explanations, you'll master this essential HSK 4 word and understand the important distinction between formal and spoken Chinese.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): měi rì
• Part of Speech: Adverb, Adjective
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: Happening or done every day; daily.
• In a Nutshell: 每日 (měi rì) is the more formal, written, or literary way to say “every day.” While its literal meaning is the same as the common word 每天 (měitiān), its feeling is different. Think of it like the difference between “daily” and “every day” in English. You'd see “Daily News” on a newspaper, but you'd tell your friend what you do “every day.” 每日 carries a tone of regularity, officialness, and is most often encountered in text.

• 每 (měi): This character means “every” or “each.” It's a fundamental character used to express distribution over a group or a period of time.
• 日 (rì): This character is a pictograph of the sun and means “day” or “sun.” It's the more formal or literary character for “day” compared to 天 (tiān).

When combined, 每 (every) + 日 (day) literally and logically means “every day.” The formality of the word comes from the use of the character 日.

The primary significance of 每日 lies in its role illustrating the important distinction between 书面语 (shūmiànyǔ) - written language and 口语 (kǒuyǔ) - spoken language in Chinese. This distinction is much more pronounced than in modern English. In Western culture, the difference between formal and informal language often relates to politeness or specific jargon (e.g., using “utilize” instead of “use”). In Chinese, the divide is deeper, with certain words and grammar structures being reserved almost exclusively for writing. 每日 is a classic example of a 书面语 term. Using 每日 in a casual conversation would be grammatically correct but socially awkward, much like saying “What is your daily routine?” to a close friend instead of “What do you do every day?” It sounds stiff and overly formal. Understanding when to use 每日 versus 每天 is a key step in moving beyond beginner-level fluency and developing a feel for the proper register in Chinese. This reflects a cultural appreciation for context and the appropriate level of formality in communication.

You will most frequently encounter 每日 in written formats.

• News and Media: It's extremely common in newspaper names, section titles, and headlines.
  • e.g., 《人民日报》(Rénmín Rìbào - The People's Daily), 每日新闻 (měirì xīnwén - daily news).
• Business and Formal Reports: Used for scheduling, reporting, and official communications.
  • e.g., 每日工作总结 (měirì gōngzuò zǒngjié - daily work summary), 每日销售报告 (měirì xiāoshòu bàogào - daily sales report).
• Product Labels and Instructions: Especially for items taken on a regular basis, like medicine or vitamins.
  • e.g., 每日一次，每次两片 (měirì yī cì, měi cì liǎng piàn - once daily, two tablets each time).
• Apps and Websites: Digital platforms use it for recurring features.
  • e.g., 每日签到 (měirì qiāndào - daily check-in), 每日推荐 (měirì tuījiàn - daily recommendation).
• Literary or Diary Context: In writing, it can be used to describe a routine in a more reflective or formal tone.

• Example 1:
  • 他有看每日新闻的习惯。
  • Pinyin: Tā yǒu kàn měirì xīnwén de xíguàn.
  • English: He has the habit of reading the daily news.
  • Analysis: This is a perfect example of a common collocation. “Daily news” is almost always 每日新闻 in writing.
• Example 2:
  • 这是我们公司的每日工作流程。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒmen gōngsī de měirì gōngzuò liúchéng.
  • English: This is our company's daily workflow.
  • Analysis: Used in a business context to describe a formal, established process. Using 每天 would sound too casual for a formal document or presentation.
• Example 3:
  • 医生建议我每日服用一片维生素。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng jiànyì wǒ měirì fúyòng yī piàn wéishēngsù.
  • English: The doctor recommended I take one vitamin tablet daily.
  • Analysis: Common on medical or health-related instructions. “服用 (fúyòng)” is also a formal word for “to take medicine.”
• Example 4:
  • 经理要求我们提交每日销售报告。
  • Pinyin: Jīnglǐ yāoqiú wǒmen tíjiāo měirì xiāoshòu bàogào.
  • English: The manager requires us to submit a daily sales report.
  • Analysis: “Daily report” (每日报告) is a standard term in a corporate environment.
• Example 5:
  • 这个App有一个“每日一笑”的栏目，非常有趣。
  • Pinyin: Zhège App yǒu yī gè “měirì yī xiào” de lánmù, fēicháng yǒuqù.
  • English: This app has a “A Laugh a Day” column, it's very interesting.
  • Analysis: Shows how 每日 is used in digital content for recurring features. “每日一[something]” is a common pattern.
• Example 6:
  • 坚持每日锻炼是保持健康的关键。
  • Pinyin: Jiānchí měirì duànliàn shì bǎochí jiànkāng de guānjiàn.
  • English: Persisting in daily exercise is the key to maintaining health.
  • Analysis: This sentence sounds like a piece of advice from a health magazine or a formal slogan. In conversation, you'd more likely say “坚持每天锻炼 (jiānchí měitiān duànliàn).”
• Example 7:
  • 餐厅的菜单上写着“每日特价菜”。
  • Pinyin: Cāntīng de càidān shàng xiě zhe “měirì tèjiàcài”.
  • English: The restaurant's menu says “Daily Special.”
  • Analysis: A common use in a commercial, written context like a menu or sign.
• Example 8:
  • 他的每日生活就是读书、写作和散步。
  • Pinyin: Tā de měirì shēnghuó jiùshì dúshū, xiězuò hé sànbù.
  • English: His daily life consists of reading, writing, and walking.
  • Analysis: Here, 每日 acts as an adjective. This phrasing feels more literary or descriptive, as if from a biography or novel.
• Example 9:
  • 请记录您的每日开支。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng jìlù nín de měirì kāizhī.
  • English: Please record your daily expenses.
  • Analysis: This is a formal instruction, perhaps from a financial app or an accounting department. The polite “您 (nín)” fits well with the formal 每日.
• Example 10:
  • 博物馆每日的开放时间是从上午九点到下午五点。
  • Pinyin: Bówùguǎn měirì de kāifàng shíjiān shì cóng shàngwǔ jiǔ diǎn dào xiàwǔ wǔ diǎn.
  • English: The museum's daily opening hours are from 9 AM to 5 PM.
  • Analysis: Used on an official sign, website, or brochure to provide information to the public.

The most common mistake for learners is using 每日 in casual, spoken situations. It's not a “better” or “more correct” version of 每天; it's simply the version for a different context (formal/written). Rule of Thumb: If you are speaking, use 每天 (měitiān). If you are writing a formal document, headline, or instruction, use 每日 (měirì). Incorrect Usage:

• (Chatting with a friend)
• 你每日都吃什么早饭？ (Nǐ měirì dōu chī shénme zǎofàn?)
• Why it's wrong: This sounds unnaturally stiff and formal, like you are conducting an official survey.
• How to fix it: 你每天都吃什么早饭？ (Nǐ měitiān dōu chī shénme zǎofàn?)

Correct Usage:

• (Title of a health article)
• 每日健康饮食指南 (Měirì Jiànkāng Yǐnshí Zhǐnán)
• Why it's right: This is a formal, written title. 每日 is perfectly suited for this context.
• Using 每天 here: 《每天健康饮食指南》 would sound less professional and more like a casual blog post title.

• 每天 (měitiān) - The colloquial, spoken equivalent of 每日. The most common way to say “every day” in conversation.
• 天天 (tiāntiān) - A more emphatic and informal version of 每天, meaning “every single day.” Often used to express frequency that feels constant or even tedious.
• 日常 (rìcháng) - An adjective meaning “daily,” “day-to-day,” or “routine.” It describes the *nature* of something, rather than just its frequency. e.g., 日常生活 (rìcháng shēnghuó) - daily life.
• 每周 (měi zhōu) - Every week. Follows the same “每 + [time period]” structure.
• 每月 (měi yuè) - Every month.
• 每年 (měi nián) - Every year.
• 本日 (běn rì) - A very formal term for “today” or “this day,” often seen on official notices. It shares the formal character 日.
• 当日 (dàng rì) - “That day” or “on the same day.” Another formal term used in written narratives and reports.
• 书面语 (shūmiànyǔ) - The concept of formal, written language. Understanding this is key to knowing when to use 每日.
• 口语 (kǒuyǔ) - The concept of spoken, colloquial language. This is the domain of 每天.