Expressing "all" with "suoyou"
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Level
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Similar to
- Emphasizing quantity with "dou" (A2)
- Expressing "everything" with "shenme dou" (A2)
- Expressing "double negation" (B1)
- Expressing "every time" with "mei" and "dou" (B1)
- Expressing "every" with question words (B1)
- Expressing "less than" with "budao" (B1)
- Indicating the whole with "quan" (B1)
- Expressing "any" with "renhe" (B2)
- Expressing "no exception" with "yilu" (C1)
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Used for
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Keywords
In this grammar structure, we learn about a way to say "all" that is, well, a bit more epic. Sort of like how we might say "all the king's men" or "all the money in the world."
Structure
"所有的⋯⋯ 都⋯⋯" (suǒyǒude... dōu...) is a pattern used to refer to "every" or "all" of a noun, with the quantity of said noun usually being fairly large. You can sometimes not use “的” after “所有”.
所有的 + Noun + 都 + Verb / Adj.
Examples
- 我们 部门 所有 的 员工 都 会 说 英文。All the employees from our department can speak English.
- 你们 公司 所有的 经理 都 是 男的 吗？All the managers in your company are male?
- 这里 所有 的 女孩 都 没 上 过 学。All of the girls here have never gone to school.
- 我 都 爱 吃 所有 的 中国 菜。I love eating all the Chinese food.
- 所有 作业 你 都 做 完 了 吗？Have you finished doing all the homework yet?
- 中国 所有的 名山 我 都 去 过。I've been to each and every famous mountain in China.
- 他 找 了 所有的 朋友 ，但是 没有 人 能 帮 他。 He went to all his friends, but nobody can help.
- 这 次 旅行 我们 花 了所有的 钱 。We spent all the money on this trip.
See also
- Expressing "Everyone" with "shei"
- Expressing "All" with "shenme dou"
- Expressing "Every" with "mei" and "dou"
- Indicating the whole with "quan"
Sources and further reading
Books
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 283) →buy
- Contemporary Chinese 4 (当代中文4) (pp. 181)→buy
Websites
- Chinesegrammar.info: Chinese grammar 所 (suǒ) structural particle
