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

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
The adverb 都 (dōu) is used to express "all" in Chinese. It's very common to use 都 in all sorts of sentences where we would find it unnecessary in English.
 
  
== 都 for "all" ==
+
The adverb 都 (dōu) is used to express "all" in Chinese. It's common to use 都 (dōu) in a variety of sentences where it would seem unnecessary in English.
 +
 
 +
== 都 (dōu) for "All" ==
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
Subject + 都 + [Verb Phrase]
+
Subj. + 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 (dōu) appears ''after'' the subject. A common mistake learners make is to put 都 (dōu) at the beginning of the sentence (as "all" often appears there in English). This isn't good Chinese - make sure you put 都 (dōu) after the subject and before the verb.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 我们 <em>都</em> 爱 你 。 <span class="trans">We all love you.</span>
+
* 你们 <em>都</em> 认识 John 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>dōu</em> rènshi John ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you all know John? </span>
* 你们 <em></em> 学 中文 吗 ?<span class="trans">Do you all study Chinese?</span>
+
* 他们 <em>都</em> 在 上海 。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen <em>dōu</em> zài Shànghǎi.</span><span class="trans">They are all in Shanghai.</span>
* 你们 <em>都</em> 认识 John 吗 ? <span class="trans">Do you all know John?</span>
+
* 明天 我们 <em>都</em> 可以 去 <span class="pinyin">Míngtiān wǒmen <em>dōu</em> kěyǐ qù.</span><span class="trans">Tomorrow we all can go.</span>
* 我们 <em></em> 在 上海 。 <span class="trans">We are all in Shanghai.</span>
+
* 你们 <em>都</em> 用 wiki 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen <em>dōu</em> yòng wiki ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you all use the wiki? </span>
* 我们 <em>都</em> 可以 去 吗 ? <span class="trans">Can we all go?</span>
+
* 我们 <em>都</em> 要 冰水。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <em>dōu</em> yào bīngshuǐ .</span><span class="trans">We all want ice water.</span>
* 他们 <em></em> 踢 足球 。<span class="trans">They all play soccer.</span>
 
* 我 和 我 父母 <em>都</em> 在 这里 。 <span class="trans">My parents and I are all here.</span>
 
* 你们 <em></em> 用 wiki 吗 ? <span class="trans">Do you all use the wiki?</span>
 
* 你们 <em>都</em> 喜欢 喝 咖啡 吗 ? <span class="trans">Do you all like drinking coffee?</span>
 
* 你们 <em></em> 要 冰 啤酒 吗 ?<span class="trans">Do you all want a cold beer?</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== 都 for "both" ==
+
== 都 (dōu) for "Both" ==
  
Chinese doesn't normally use a special word for "both" like English does.  It just uses 都 as if it were any other number greater than one.  This is actually really easy; you just have to get used to it.
+
Chinese doesn't normally use a special word for "both" like English does.  It just uses 都 (dōu) as if it were any other number greater than one.  Chinese also doesn't have a special pattern like "neither / nor" for the negative case.  Just use 都 (dōu) and make the sentence negative.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
[Subject which is two people or things ] + 都 + [Verb Phrase]
+
Subj. + 都 + [Verb Phrase]
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
This pattern should look familiar!
+
This pattern should look familiar.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
  
These examples follow exactly the same form in Chinese as the ones above.  The only difference is that we don't translate 都 as "all" for these in ''English''; we translate it as "both," and for negative cases, we translate it as "neither."
+
These examples follow exactly the same form in Chinese as the ones above.  The only difference is that here we don't translate 都 (dōu) as "all" in English; we translate it as "both," and for negative cases, we translate it as "neither."
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 我们 两 个 <em>都 </em> 爱 你 。 <span class="trans">The two of us both love you.</span>
+
* 我们 两 个 <em>都</em> 爱 你 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen liǎng gè <em>dōu</em> ài nǐ.</span><span class="trans">The two of us both love you.</span>
* 你们 两 个 <em>都</em> 学 中文 吗 ? <span class="trans">Do you both study Chinese?</span>
+
* 你 爸爸 和 你 妈妈 <em>都</em> 是 美国人 吗?<span class="pinyin"> Nǐ bàba hé nǐ māma <em>dōu</em> shì Měiguó rén ma?</span><span class="trans">Are your father and your mother both Americans? </span>
* 我 和 我 老公 <em></em> 是 美国 人 。<span class="trans">My husband and I are both Americans.</span>
+
* 我 和 我 太太 <em>都</em> 不 吃 肉。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hé wǒ tàitai <em>dōu</em> bù chī ròu.</span><span class="trans">Neither my wife nor I eat meat.</span>
* 我 和 我 太太 <em>都</em> 在 上海。 <span class="trans">My wife and I are both in Shanghai.</span>
+
* 你们 两个 <em>都</em> 喜欢 中国 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen liǎng gè <em>dōu</em> xǐhuan Zhōngguó cài ma? </span><span class="trans">Do you both like Chinese food? </span>
* 我 和 他 <em></em> 喜欢 中国 菜 。 <span class="trans">He and I both like Chinese food.</span>
+
* 她 老公 <em>都</em> 没有 工作。<span class="pinyin"> Tā hé tā lǎogōng <em>dōu</em> méiyǒu gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">Neither she nor her husband has a job.</span>
* 你 爸爸 和 妈妈 <em>都</em> 中国 吗?<span class="trans">Are your mom and dad both Chinese?</span>
 
* 我 和 我 男朋友 <em></em> 不 想 工作。 <span class="trans">Neither my boyfriend nor I want to work.</span>
 
* 我 的 儿子 女儿 <em>都</em> 不 吃 肉。 <span class="trans">Neither my son nor my daughter eat meat.</span>
 
* 他们 两 个 <em></em> 不 喝 酒。 <span class="trans">Neither of the two of them drink alcohol.</span>
 
* 你们 两 个 <em>都</em> 不 可以 走。 <span class="trans">Neither of you two may leave.</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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*[["Ye" and "dou" together]]
 
*[["Ye" and "dou" together]]
*[[The also adverb]]
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*[[The "also" adverb "ye"]]
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 53-4) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
+
{{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|108}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)]] (p. 88) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561910401/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561910401 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|53-4}}
* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (p. 35) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]
+
{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)|88}}
 +
{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|35}}
  
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|都|A1|都 + V / 都 + Adj.|我们 <em>都</em> 住 在 上海。|grammar point|ASG9YK09}}
+
{{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}}
 +
{{Basic Grammar|都|A1|都 + Verb / Adj.|我们 <em>都</em> 住 在 上海。|grammar point|ASG9YK09}}
 
{{Similar|"Ye" and "dou" together}}  
 
{{Similar|"Ye" and "dou" together}}  
{{Similar|The also adverb}}
+
{{Similar|The also adverb "ye"}}
 +
{{Similar|Pronoun "mei" for "every"}}
 +
{{Similar|Emphasizing quantity with "dou"}}
 +
{{Similar|Expressing "every time" with "mei" and "dou"}}
 
{{POS|Adverbs}}
 
{{POS|Adverbs}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing quantity}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing quantity}}

Latest revision as of 09:22, 20 April 2021

Chinese-grammar-wiki-dou.jpg

The adverb 都 (dōu) is used to express "all" in Chinese. It's common to use 都 (dōu) in a variety of sentences where it would seem unnecessary in English.

都 (dōu) for "All"

Structure

Subj. + 都 + [Verb Phrase]

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

Examples

  • 你们 认识 John 吗 ?Nǐmen dōu rènshi John ma?Do you all know John?
  • 他们 在 上海 。Tāmen dōu zài Shànghǎi.They are all in Shanghai.
  • 明天 我们 可以 去 。Míngtiān wǒmen dōu kěyǐ qù.Tomorrow we all can go.
  • 你们 用 wiki 吗 ?Nǐmen dōu yòng wiki ma?Do you all use the wiki?
  • 我们 要 冰水。Wǒmen dōu yào bīngshuǐ .We all want ice water.

都 (dōu) for "Both"

Chinese doesn't normally use a special word for "both" like English does. It just uses 都 (dōu) as if it were any other number greater than one. Chinese also doesn't have a special pattern like "neither / nor" for the negative case. Just use 都 (dōu) and make the sentence negative.

Structure

Subj. + 都 + [Verb Phrase]

This pattern should look familiar.

Examples

These examples follow exactly the same form in Chinese as the ones above. The only difference is that here we don't translate 都 (dōu) as "all" in English; we translate it as "both," and for negative cases, we translate it as "neither."

  • 我们 两 个 爱 你 。Wǒmen liǎng gè dōu ài nǐ.The two of us both love you.
  • 你 爸爸 和 你 妈妈 是 美国人 吗? Nǐ bàba hé nǐ māma dōu shì Měiguó rén ma?Are your father and your mother both Americans?
  • 我 和 我 太太 不 吃 肉。Wǒ hé wǒ tàitai dōu bù chī ròu.Neither my wife nor I eat meat.
  • 你们 两个 喜欢 中国 菜 吗?Nǐmen liǎng gè dōu xǐhuan Zhōngguó cài ma? Do you both like Chinese food?
  • 她 和 她 老公 没有 工作。 Tā hé tā lǎogōng dōu méiyǒu gōngzuò.Neither she nor her husband has a job.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books