The "all" adverb "dou"

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.

Structure

Subject + 都 + Predicate Verb + Object

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 住 在 上海。
• 我 和 我 老公 都 是 美国人。My husband and I are all Americans.
• 我 和 我 太太 都 在 上海 工作。
• 他们 都 踢足 球。They all play soccer.
• 我 和 他 都 喜欢 中国菜。
• 我们 都 爱 你 。
• 你们 都 在 学 中文 吗？Are you all studying Chinese?
• 你们 都 认识 John 吗？
• 你们 都 在 用 Grammar Wiki 吗？
• 你们 都 喜欢 喝 咖啡 吗？
• 我们 都 可以 去 吗？

See also

• "Ye" and "dou" together
• The also adverb

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 53-4) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 88) →buy