每当…（的时候），…
whenever; every time that
Structure
每当 情况 （的时候／时），主语 就／都／总 …
What it means
Whenever, every time that: introduces a situation that comes round again and again.
How it is built
每当 + clause (+ 的时候／时), then a main clause with 就, 都 or 总 (often + 会): 每当家里来了客人，奶奶都要亲自下厨 (whenever guests come, Grandma cooks herself).
When to use it
More written and evocative than 每次. 每逢 (lesson 2-6) takes a date or festival directly (每逢春节); 每当 needs a whole clause (每当春节来临).
Watch out
No bare number or noun after it: ✗ 每当三次 ✗ 每当春节 ✓ 每当春节来临. Do not use it for something that happened only once.
Examples
每当零点的钟声敲响，屏幕里外的欢呼声此起彼伏。
Whenever the midnight bell rings, cheers rise in waves on both sides of the screen.
每当有人问起那段经历，他总是笑着摆摆手，不愿多说。
Whenever anyone asks about that time, he just smiles and waves the question away, unwilling to say more.
每当家里来了客人，奶奶都要亲自下厨。
Whenever guests come to the house, Grandma insists on doing the cooking herself.
Learn this in Lesson 234 · HSK 9+: 春晚 (The Spring Festival Gala)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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