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 of" something. Sort of like how we might say "all the king's men" or "all the money in the world."
Contents
Basic Pattern
Structure
This pattern is used to refer to "all" of a noun, with the quantity of said noun usually being fairly large. You may notice that the 的 after 所有 is occasionally omitted.
所有 (+ 的) + Noun
Examples
- 我 喜欢 所有 我 妈妈 做 的 菜 。I like all the food the my mother cooks.
- 你 买 了 她 所有的 书 ？You've bought all her books?
- 我 的 孩子 看 过 所有 迪斯尼 动画片 。My children have seen all the Disney movies.
- 他 记得 所有 朋友 的 生日 。He remembers all his friends' birthday.
Advanced Pattern
Structure
所有 (+ 的) + Noun + 都 + Predicate
The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.
Examples
- 所有 人 都 走 了 吗 ？Did everybody left?
- 所有的 学校 都 放假 了。All the schools are on holidays.
- 我们 学校 所有的 老师 都 会 说 英文 。All the teachers in our school can speak English.
- 我们 公司 所有 人 都 参加 了 这个 会议 。Everybody in our company attended this meeting.
"Not All" with 不是所有的
Structure
不是 + 所有 (+ 的) + Noun + 都 + Predicate
Examples
- 不是 所有的 美国 人 都 爱 喝 咖啡 。Not all the Americans like drinking coffee.
- 不是 所有的 问题 都 能 用 钱 来 解决 。We can't solve all the problems with money.
- 不是 所有 朋友 都 愿意 在 你 需要 的 时候 帮 你 。Not all of our friends are ready to help us when we're in need.
- 不是 所有 公司 都 给 员工 提供 专业 的 培训 。Not all the company provides their employees with professional training.
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) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Contemporary Chinese 4 (当代中文4) (pp. 181) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
Websites
- Chinesegrammar.info: Chinese grammar 所 (suǒ) structural particle
