Advanced uses of "dou"

In its simplest terms, 都 (dōu) means "all," but there are also many other advanced uses for it.

都 meaning "to the point that"

都 can also mean 甚至, meaning "even to the point that," and in this form it expresses emphasis.

Subj. + 都 + Predicate

Examples

• 我 都 能 闻见 面包 的 香味 。Wǒ dōu néng wén jiànmiàn bāo de xiāngwèi.I can even smell the aroma of bread.
• 我 对 你 太 了解 了 ，我 都 能 知道 你 下 一步 要 做 什么 。Wǒ duì nǐ tài liǎojiěle, wǒ dōu néng zhīdào nǐ xià yībù yào zuò shénme.I know you too well. I can even tell what your next move is.
• 我 很 想 妈妈 ，有时候 我 都 能 看见 她 。Wǒ hěn xiǎng Māmā, yǒu shíhòu wǒ dōu néng kànjiàn tā.I really miss Mom. Sometimes I can even see her.

都 meaning "since..., then..."

都 can also mean "既然⋯⋯就", meaning "Since ..., in that case...“ A simple example would be 他都不说汉语，别跟他讲话, meaning "Since he does not speak Chinese, so don't talk with him."

都 + 小句，主句

Examples

• 他 都 这么 说 了 ，你 还 好意思 再 找 他 帮忙 ？Tā dōu zhème shuōle, nǐ hái hǎoyìsi zài zhǎo tā bāngmáng?Even after he said that, you still have the gall to ask for his help?
• 来 都 来 了 ， 就 先 别 急着 走 了 。Lái dōu láile, jiù xiān bié jízhuó zǒule.I'm here already. No need to be in such a hurry to leave.

都 can also have have a tone of complaint

It often has a tone of grumbling or complaint, and it is often used with 怨 or 怪.

都 + 怨 / 是 / 怪 + Somebody

Examples

• 都 怪 你，出门 不 带 伞。Dōu guài nǐ, chūmén bù dài sǎn.It's all your fault, leaving without bringing an umbrella.
• 都 是 你，害 我 跑 这么 远。Dōu shì nǐ, hài wǒ pǎo zhème yuǎn.It's your fault, making me go all that way.
• 都 怨 你，不 提前 订 好 座位。Dōu yuàn nǐ, bù tíqián dìng hǎo zuòwèi.I blame you for not making the reservation earlier in the day.

See also

• "Even" as "shenzhi"
• Expressing "Every" with "mei" and "dou"
• Explaining results with "suoyi"
• Expressing "all" with "shenme dou"
• Emphasizing quantity with "dou"
• Expressing "even" with "lian" and "dou"
• "Already" with "dou…le"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp. 97-99) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 178) [ →buy]

Dictionaries

• 现代汉语词典（第5版） (pp.329 ) →buy

HSK5