Expressing "every" with question words

This grammar point is not about how to use 每 (měi) to mean "every," but rather how to combine question words with 都 (dōu) to make words and phrases like "everywhere" or "everyone." You may have learned this same pattern for expressing "everything," but now it's time to extend it.

"Everyone" with 谁 都

谁 都 (shéi dōu) is a pattern used to express "everyone" (or possibly "anyone") in Chinese. The placement of the question word 谁 is very similar to the way 什么 (shénme) can be used to express "every", along with other question words like 哪儿 (nǎr) and 多少 (duōshǎo).

Structure

谁 + 都 + Predicate

The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.

Examples

• 谁 都 喜欢 美食 。Shéi dōu xǐhuan měishí.Everyone likes delicious food.
• 谁 都 可以 进 。Shéi dōu kěyǐ jìn.Everyone can come in.
• 谁 都 不 相信 他 说 的 话 。Shéi dōu bù xiāngxìn tā shuō de huà.No one believes what he said.

"Everywhere" with 哪儿 都

This pattern also works with 哪儿 (nǎr).

Structure

哪儿 / 哪里 (+ Verb) + 都 + Predicate

Examples

• 他 的 房间 里 哪儿 都 是 脏 衣服 。Tā de fángjiān lǐ nǎr dōu shì zāng yīfu.His dirty laundry is all over his room.
• 我 太 累 了，哪儿 都 不 想 去 。Wǒ tài lèi le, nǎr dōu bù xiǎng qù.I'm too tired. I don't want to go anywhere.
• 在 哪里 见面 都 行 。Zài nǎlǐ jiànmiàn dōu xíng.I'm fine with meeting anywhere.

"Whenever" with 什么时候 都

什么时候 (shénme shíhou) combines with 都 (dōu) to mean "whenever" or "anytime."

Structure

什么时候 (+ Verb) + 都 + Predicate

Examples

• 什么 时候 都 可以 。Shénme shíhou dōu kěyǐ.Anytime is fine.
• 你什么 时候 来 都 欢迎 。Nǐ shénme shíhou lái dōu huānyíng.You're welcome to come anytime.
• 什么 时候 开始 都 不 晚 。Shénme shíhou kāishǐ dōu bù wǎn.It's never too late to start.

"However Much" with 多少 都

多少 (duōshao) also works with 都 in this case.

Structure

Verb + 多少 + 都 + Predicate

Examples

• 你 想 吃 多少 都 可以 。Nǐ xiǎng chī duōshao dōu kěyǐ.You can eat however much you want.
• 这些 是 免费 的 ，我们 拿 多少 都 没 问题 。Zhèxiē shì miǎnfèi de, wǒmen ná duōshao dōu méi wèntí.These are all free. We can take as much as we want.
• 我 跟 他 说 多少 遍 都 没有 用 。Wǒ gēn tā shuō duōshǎo biàn dōu méiyǒu yòng.It doesn't matter how many times I tell him.

"However" with 怎么 都

怎么 (zěnme) also works with 都 in this case.

Structure

怎么 + Verb + 都 + Predicate

Examples

• 怎么 做 都 可以 吗 ？ Zěnme zuò dōu kěyǐ ma? Is it OK if I do whatever I want?
• 这些 钱 你 怎么 花 都 行 。Zhèxiē qián nǐ zěnme huā dōu xíng.You can spend this money however you like.
• 别人 怎么 想 都 不 重要 。 Biérén zěnme xiǎng dōu bù zhòngyào.It doesn't matter what other people think.

See also

• Expressing "All" with "shenme dou"
• Expressing "Every" with "mei" and "dou"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 286-8) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy