The "all" adverb "dou"
-
Level
-
Similar to
-
Used for
-
Keywords
The adverb 都 (dōu) is used to express "all" in Chinese. It's very common to use 都 is all sorts of sentences where we might find it unnecessary in English.
Structure
Subject + 都 + [Verb Phrase]
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 爱 你 。 We all love you.
- 你们 都 在 学 中文 吗 ？Are you all studying Chinese?
- 你们 都 认识 John 吗 ？ Do you all know John?
- 我们都 住 在 上海 。 We all live in Shanghai.
- 我们 都 可以 去 吗 ？ Can we all go?
- 他们 都 踢 足球 。They all play soccer.
- 我 和 我 老公 都 是 美国 人 。(In English we use "both" instead of "all" if it's only two people/things in the subject.)My husband and I are both Americans.
- 我 和 我 太太 都 在 上海 工作。 My wife and I both work in Shanghai.
- 我 和 他 都 喜欢 中国 菜 。 (Again, 都 is translated as "both" here.)He and I both like Chinese food.
- 你们 都 在 用 wiki 吗？ Are you all using the wiki?
- 你们 都 喜欢 喝 咖啡 吗 ？ Do you all like drinking coffee?
