Every
毎
Every
Kun-yomi 🇯🇵:
まい (mai)
(Japanese reading)On-yomi 🇨🇳:
マイ (mai)
(Chinese-derived reading)
Pronunciation rules
- まい (mai) is used in compounds meaning "every".
- マイ (mai) is the on-yomi used in compounds like 毎日 (まいにち, mainichi: every day), 毎月 (まいつき, maitsuki: every month), and 毎年 (まいとし, maitoshi: every year).
- This kanji is almost always used in compounds and rarely appears alone.
- Etymology: Picture of a mother with a hairpin → mother gives birth one after another → every
Examples
On-yomiSino-Japanese Readings
毎日 です。
It's every day.
Uses on-yomi マイ (mai) in compound 毎日
毎月 です。
It's every month.
Uses on-yomi マイ (mai) in compound 毎月
毎年 です。
It's every year.
Uses on-yomi マイ (mai) in compound 毎年
毎朝 です。
It's every morning.
Uses on-yomi マイ (mai) in compound 毎朝
Quick facts
- Radical: 毋 (mother)
- Strokes: 6
- Common compounds: 毎日 (まいにち, mainichi), 毎月 (まいつき, maitsuki), 毎年 (まいとし, maitoshi), 毎朝 (まいあさ, maiasa)
- ⚠️ Reading usage:
- In compounds: まい (mai) - every
- Rarely used alone
Key Words
毎日 - every day
毎月 - every month
毎年 - every year
毎朝 - every morning