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12 Grammar Points of the function word 都(dōu - all, both, already, even...)

HSK Grammar Points > The Function Word 都 dōu


In Chinese, Function Words(虚词) serve grammatical functions, and have to be used with other words to form a meaningful sentence. Function words include adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, particles, interjections, and onomatopoeia. Compared with Content Words(实词), the number of Function Words is very small, and there are about three hundred commonly used function words.
When used as an Adverb, 都 is pronounced as dōu, meaning all, both, already and even. It also can be used with other words to state a reason(都是) or to express Whole, Any of, Every one of, Everyone, Anyone, Everything, Anything, Nothing, Not even, Not All, None of, Neither, etc.
  1. All / Both
    Subject + 都 + Predicate
    When used with 都 to express "All / Both", the Subject has to be more than one person or thing.
    • Wǒmen dōu zài kàn zhe tā.
      我们在看着她。
      We are all looking at her. 1171
      Wǒ de fùmǔ dōu shì lǎoshī.
      我的父母是老师。
      Both my parents are teachers. 13601
  2. Already
    Subject + 都 + Predicate
    used to express something already happened
    • dōu děngle yīgè xiǎoshíle.
      等了一个小时了。
      I've been waiting an hour already. 13591
  3. Even
    比...都 + Adj.
    The structure can be used to show that something is surprising, unusual, unexpected, or extreme.
    • Jīntiān zhōngwǔ bǐ shàngwǔ dōu lěng.
      今天中午上午冷。
      It is even colder at noon than in the morning. 11795
  4. (State a reason)
    都是 + Reason
    used with 是 to explain why
    • Dōushì nǐ de cuò, hài de dàjiā chídàole.
      都是你的错,害得大家迟到了。
      It's all your fault that everyone is late. 13603
  5. Whole
    全/整...都 + Predicate
    全/整 can be used with 都 to mean "Whole".
    • Tā zhěnggè xiàwǔ dōu zài kàn diànshì.
      个下午在看电视。
      He has been watching TV for whole afternoon. 9296
      Quánjiā dōu qù dùjiàle.
      去度假了。
      The whole family went on vacation. 13602
  6. Any of
    一...都没 + Predicate】【任何...都 + Predicate
    任何...都 means "any one of"; 一...都没 means "not ... any of".
    • Nǐmen zhōng de rènhé rén dōu néng zuò dào.
      你们中的任何能做到。
      Any one of you can do it. 8414
      Tā de shū wǒ yī běn dōu méi kànguò.
      他的书我看过。
      I haven't read any of his books. 13600
  7. Every one of
    每/全...都 + Predicate
    每/全 can be used with 都 to express "each and every one of".
    • Měi yī zhǒng huā dōu yǒu zìjǐ de yánsè.
      每一种有自己的颜色。
      Each and every one of the flowers has its own color. 7235
      Zhèxiē huà quán dōu shì jiǎ de.
      这些画是假的。
      Every one of these paintings is a fake. 13599
  8. Everyone / Anyone
    谁都 + Predicate
    谁 can be used with 都 to express "everyone, anyone".
    • Tā duì shéi dōu zhème shuō.
      他对这么说。
      He talked to everyone about it. 12051
      Shéi dōu néng zhèyàng zuò.
      能这样做。
      Anyone can do that. 12052
  9. Anything / Nothing
    什么都 (+ 没) + Predicate
    什么都=Anything;什么都没=Nothing
    • Shénme dōu méi fāshēng.
      什么都发生。
      Nothing happened. 2004
      Shénme dōu kěnéng fāshēng.
      什么都可能发生。
      Anything can happen. 12054
  10. Not even
    Subject + 连...都不 + Predicate
    连...都不 is used to mean "not even".
    • Wǒ lián tā zài nǎlǐ dōu bù zhīdào.
      他在哪里知道。
      I don't even know where he is. 13593
  11. Not All | None of
    Subject + 不都 / 都不 + Predicate
    The positions of 不 related to 都 can represent different meanings: 不都 = Not All;都不 = None of.
    • Wǒ de péngyǒumen bù dōu huì shuō hànyǔ.
      我的朋友们不都会说汉语。
      Not all my friends can speak Chinese. 11784
      Wǒ de péngyǒumen dōu bù huì shuō hànyǔ.
      我的朋友们都不会说汉语。
      None of my friends can speak Chinese. 11785
  12. Neither
    两者 + 都不 + Predicate
    都不 can also express "neither; not either of two ones".
    • Wǒ fùmǔ dōu bù xǐhuān yīnyuè.
      我父母都不喜欢音乐。
      Neither of my parents likes music. 13597
      Zhè liǎng zhǒng bànfǎ dōu bù chénggōng.
      这两种办法都不成功。
      Neither approach was successful. 13598