Usage of 毎～
The prefix 毎 (まい) is used to indicate repetition or regular occurrence of an event or action, typically translated as "every ~" in English. It is commonly attached to time-related nouns such as 朝 (morning), 週 (week), 年 (year), 日 (day), and 月 (month).
Common Collocations
- 毎日 (まいにち): every day
- 毎週 (まいしゅう): every week
- 毎月 (まいつき / まいげつ): every month
- 毎年 (まいとし / まいねん): every year
- 毎朝 (まいあさ): every morning
These collocations are frequently used in both spoken and written Japanese to express habitual actions or events.
Register and Usage Notes
毎～ is neutral in formality and can be used in casual and formal contexts. It is often used to describe routines, schedules, or repeated events.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 毎～ with いつも (always). 毎～ emphasizes the regular interval (e.g., every day), while いつも means "always" regardless of time intervals. For example, 毎日学校に行く means "go to school every day," while いつも学校に行く means "always go to school," which can imply a habitual action but not necessarily with a strict time interval.