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.
     我们都在看着她。
     We are all looking at her. 1171
     Wǒ de fùmǔ dōu shì lǎoshī.
     我的父母都是老师。
     Both my parents are teachers. 13601
2. Already
   【Subject + 都 + Predicate】
   used to express something already happened
   • Wǒ dōu děngle yīgè xiǎoshíle.
     我都等了一个小时了。
     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.
     今天中午比上午都冷。
     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.
     他整个下午都在看电视。
     He has been watching TV for whole afternoon. 9296
     Quánjiā dōu qù dùjiàle.
     全家都去度假了。
     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.
     你们中的任何人都能做到。
     Any one of you can do it. 8414
     Tā de shū wǒ yī běn dōu méi kànguò.
     他的书我一本都没看过。
     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.
     每一种花都有自己的颜色。
     Each and every one of the flowers has its own color. 7235
     Zhèxiē huà quán dōu shì jiǎ de.
     这些画全都是假的。
     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.
     他对谁都这么说。
     He talked to everyone about it. 12051
     Shéi dōu néng zhèyàng zuò.
     谁都能这样做。
     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.
     什么都没发生。
     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.
      我连他在哪里都不知道。
      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