Advanced uses of "dou"
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Keywords
In its simplest terms, 都 (dōu) means "all," but there are also many other advanced uses for it.
Contents
都 meaning "to the point that"
都 can also mean 甚至 (shènzhì), meaning "even to the point that," and in this form it expresses emphasis.
Subj. + 都 + Predicate
Examples
- 我 都 能 闻见 面包 的 香味 。I can even smell the aroma of bread.
- 他的 记忆力 很 好,去年 发生 的 事情 他 都 能 说 出来。His memory is amazing. He can even tell you everything that happened last year.
- 我 对 你 太 了解 了 ,我 都 能 知道 你 下 一步 要 做 什么 。I know you too well. I can even tell what your next move will be.
- 你 说的 那些 我 都 能 想象 得到。I can imagine all those things that you said.
- 现在 网络 购物 很 方便,你 需要 在 网上 都 能 买得到。It's so convenient to shop online now, you need Internet just to be able to buy things.
- 我 很 想 妈妈 ,有时候 我 都 能 看见 她 。I really miss Mom. Sometimes I can even see her.
都 meaning "since..., then..."
This pattern overlaps a little with the 都……了 pattern used to mean "already." It still has some of that "already," flavor, but with some of "since" added in as well.
Structure
"Since ..., in that case...“ can also be conveyed with 都 and a repeating verb, similar to "既然⋯⋯就".
Verb + 都 + Verb 了,...
Examples
- 来 都 来 了 , 就 先 别 急着 走 了 。I'm here already. No need to be in such a hurry to leave.
- 去 都 去 了 , 就 好好 玩 吧。Go all the way, just have fun.
- 说 都 说 了 , 就别说这是什么秘密了。Say what you want to say, just don't spill secrets.
都 can also have have a tone of complaint
都 can also convey a tone of grumbling or complaint, frequently used with 怨 or 怪.
都 + 怨 / 是 / 怪 + Somebody
Examples
- 都 怪 你,出门 不 带 伞。It's all your fault, leaving without bringing an umbrella.
- 都 是 你,害 我 跑 这么 远。It's because of you, making me go all that way.
- 都 怨 你,不 提前 订好 座位。I blame you for not making the reservation earlier.
See also
- Expressing "even" with "shenzhi"
- Expressing "every" with "mei" and "dou"
- Explaining results with "suoyi"
- Expressing "all" with "shenme dou"
- Emphasizing quantity with "dou"
- Expressing "even" with "lian" and "dou"
- Expressing "already" with "dou"
Sources and further reading
Books
- Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp. 97-99) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- 现代汉语八百词(增订本) (pp. 178) [ →buy]
Dictionaries
- 现代汉语词典(第5版) (pp.329 ) →buy