Difference between revisions of "The "all" adverb "dou""

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{{Grammar Box}}
 
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The adverb 都 (dōu) is used to express "all" in Chinese. In Chinese, it's more common to mark this than in English. If the subject is plural, 都 is often expected.
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The adverb 都 (dōu) is used to express "all" in Chinese. It's very common to use 都 is all sorts of sentences where we might find it unnecessary in English.
  
 
== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subject + 都 + Predicate Verb + Object
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Subject + 都 + [Verb Phrase]
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
Remember that 都 appears ''after'' the subject. A common mistake learners make is to put 都 at the beginning of the sentence (as "all" often appears there in English). This isn't good Chinese - make sure you put 都 after the subject.  
 
Remember that 都 appears ''after'' the subject. A common mistake learners make is to put 都 at the beginning of the sentence (as "all" often appears there in English). This isn't good Chinese - make sure you put 都 after the subject.  
 
  
 
== Examples ==
 
== Examples ==
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 我们<em>都</em> 上海。
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* 我们 <em>都 爱</em> 你 。 <span class="trans">We all love you.</span>
* 我 和 我 老公 <em>都</em> 是 美国人。<span class="trans">My husband and I are all Americans.</span>
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* 你们 <em>都</em> 在 学 中文 吗 ?<span class="trans">Are you all studying Chinese?</span>
* 我 和 我 太太 <em>都</em> 在 上海 工作。
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* 你们 <em>都</em> 认识 John 吗 ? <span class="trans">Do you all know John?</span>
* 他们 <em>都</em> 踢足 球。<span class="trans">They all play soccer.</span>
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* 我们<em>都</em> 在 上海 。 <span class="trans">We all live in Shanghai.</span>
* 我 和 <em>都</em> 喜欢 中国菜。
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* 我们 <em>都</em> 可以 去 吗 ? <span class="trans">Can we all go?</span>
* 我们 <em>都 爱</em> 你 。
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* 他们 <em>都</em> 踢 足球 。<span class="trans">They all play soccer.</span>
* 你们 <em>都</em> 在 学 中文 吗?<span class="trans">Are you all studying Chinese?</span>
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* 我 和 我 老公 <em>都</em> 是 美国 人 。<span class="expl">(In English we use "both" instead of "all" if it's only two things being discussed.)</span><span class="trans">My husband and I are both Americans.</span>
* 你们 <em>都</em> 认识 John 吗?
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* 我 和 我 太太 <em>都</em> 在 上海 工作。 <span class="trans">My wife and I both work in Shanghai.</span>
* 你们 <em>都</em> 在 用 Grammar Wiki 吗?
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* 我 和 他 <em>都</em> 喜欢 中国 菜 。 <span class="expl">(Again, 都 is translated as "both" here.)</span><span class="trans">He and I both like Chinese food.</span>
* 你们 <em>都</em>  喜欢 喝 咖啡 吗?
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* 你们 <em>都</em> 在 用 wiki 吗? <span class="trans">Are you all using the wiki?</span>
* 我们 <em></em> 可以 去 吗?
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* 你们 <em>都</em>  喜欢 喝 咖啡 吗 ? <span class="trans">Do you all like drinking coffee?</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>

Revision as of 06:46, 8 September 2013

Chinese-grammar-wiki-dou.jpg

The adverb 都 (dōu) is used to express "all" in Chinese. It's very common to use 都 is all sorts of sentences where we might find it unnecessary in English.

Structure

Subject + 都 + [Verb Phrase]

Remember that 都 appears after the subject. A common mistake learners make is to put 都 at the beginning of the sentence (as "all" often appears there in English). This isn't good Chinese - make sure you put 都 after the subject.

Examples

  • 我们 都 爱 你 。 We all love you.
  • 你们 在 学 中文 吗 ?Are you all studying Chinese?
  • 你们 认识 John 吗 ? Do you all know John?
  • 我们 住 在 上海 。 We all live in Shanghai.
  • 我们 可以 去 吗 ? Can we all go?
  • 他们 踢 足球 。They all play soccer.
  • 我 和 我 老公 是 美国 人 。(In English we use "both" instead of "all" if it's only two things being discussed.)My husband and I are both Americans.
  • 我 和 我 太太 在 上海 工作。 My wife and I both work in Shanghai.
  • 我 和 他 喜欢 中国 菜 。 (Again, 都 is translated as "both" here.)He and I both like Chinese food.
  • 你们 在 用 wiki 吗? Are you all using the wiki?
  • 你们 喜欢 喝 咖啡 吗 ? Do you all like drinking coffee?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books