Expressing "every" with question words

This grammar point is not about how to use 每 (měi) to mean "every," but rather how to combine question words with 都 (dōu) to make words and phrases like "everywhere" or "everyone." You may have learned this same pattern for expressing "everything," but now it's time to extend it.

Expressing "Everyone" with 谁 都

"谁 都" (shéi dōu) is a pattern used to express "everyone" (or possibly "anyone") in Chinese. The placement of the question word 谁 is very similar to the way 什么 (shénme) can be used to express "every", along with other question words like 哪儿 (nǎr) and 多少 (duōshǎo).

Structure

谁 + 都 + Verb Phrase

Examples

• 谁 都 喜欢 美食。Shéi dōu xǐhuan měishí.Everyone likes delicious food.
• 这个 地方 谁 都 可以 进 。 Zhège dìfang shéi dōu kěyǐ jìn.Everyone can go inside this place.
• 谁 都 不 相信 他 说 的 话 。 Shéi dōu bù xiāngxìn tā shuō de huà.No one believes what he said.

Expressing "Everywhere" with 哪儿 都

This pattern also works with 哪儿 (nǎr).

Structure

哪儿 / 哪里 + 都 + Verb Phrase

Examples

• 他 的 房间 里 哪儿 都 是 脏 衣服 。Tā de fángjiān lǐ nǎr dōu shì zāng yīfu.His dirty laundry is everywhere in his room.
• 我 太 累 了，哪儿 都 不 想 去 。Wǒ tài lèi le, nǎr dōu bù xiǎng qù.I'm too tired. I don't want to go anywhere.
• 这个 周末 我 有 很 多 作业 ，哪儿 都 不能 去 。Zhège zhōumò wǒ yǒu hěn duō zuòyè, nǎr dōu bù néng qù.I have too much homework this weekend. I can't go anywhere.

Expressing "Whenever" with 什么时候 都

什么时候 (shénme shíhou) combines with 都 (dōu) to mean "whenever" or "anytime."

Structure

什么 时候 + 都 + Verb Phrase

Examples

• 你 什么 时候 来 都 行 。 Nǐ shénme shíhou lái dōu xíng.You can come anytime.
• 什么 时候 开始 都 不 晚 。 Shénme shíhou kāishǐ dōu bù wǎn.It's never too late to begin.
• 我 家 什么 时候 都 有 人 在 。 Wǒ jiā shénme shíhou dōu yǒu rén zài.There is always someone at home.

Expressing "However Much" with 多少 都

多少 (duōshao) also works with "都" in this case.

Structure

多少 (+ Noun) + 都 + Verb Phrase

Examples

• 多少 钱 都 买 不到 这个 东西 。 Duōshao qián dōu mǎi bùdào zhège dōngxi.You can't buy this thing at any price.
• 你 想 吃 多少 都 可以 。 Nǐ xiǎng chī duōshao dōu kěyǐ.You can eat however much you want.
• 这些 是 免费 的 ， 我们 拿 多少 都 没 问题 。 Zhèxiē shì miǎnfèi de, wǒmen ná duōshao dōu méi wèntí.These are all free. We can take however much we want.

Expressing "However" with 怎么 都

怎么 (zěnme) also works with "都" in this case.

Structure

怎么 + 都 + Verb Phrase

Examples

• 我 想 怎么 做 都 可以 吗 ？ Wǒ xiǎng zěnme zuò dōu kěyǐ ma? Is it OK if I do however I want?
• 别人 怎么 想 都 不 重要 。 Biérén zěnme xiǎng dōu bù zhòngyào.It doesn't matter however other people think.
• 这 件 衣服 怎么 穿 都 好看 。 Zhè jiàn yīfu zěnme chuān dōu hǎokàn.This clothing looks good however you wear it.

See also

• Expressing "All" with "shenme dou"
• Expressing "Every" with "mei" and "dou"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 286-8) →buy