The Pronoun “任何”
In Chinese, “任何” (rènhé) means “any / whichever / no matter which”.
When it modifies a noun, “的” is normally not used. “任何” is often paired with “都” or “也”.
Basic structure
任何 + noun + 都 / 也 + ...
Meaning
any … at all
whichever …
no matter which
Important rule
Before a noun you say:
任何 + noun
The form:
任何的 + noun
is normally not used.
你们以后有任何问题都可以来找我。
If you have any questions later, you can come to me.
任何问题 + 都 + 可以来找我
any question + at all + you can come to me
以后 — from now on
任何问题 — any question / problem
都 — applying to all of them
可以来找我 — you can come to me
明天我们8点出发，任何人也不能迟到。
Tomorrow we set off at 8 o’clock; nobody may be late.
任何人 + 也 + 不能迟到
any person + either + may not be late
明天 — tomorrow
8点出发 — set off at 8 o’clock
任何人 — any person
也不能迟到 — nobody may be late
Here “任何人也不能……” comes with a negative and is naturally rendered as:
nobody … may
(8点 is read “bā diǎn”.)
学校有任何通知，我都会第一时间告诉你。
If there is any notice from the school, I will tell you right away.
任何通知 + 我都 + 会第一时间告诉你
any notice + I, in every case + will tell you right away
学校 — school
任何通知 — any notice
都 — in every case
第一时间 — at the first opportunity / right away
告诉你 — tell you
Rule in brief
任何 + noun + 都 / 也 + ...
任何问题any question
任何人any person / nobody (in negatives)
任何通知any notice