Expressing "already" with "dou"

都⋯⋯了 (dōu... le) is a pattern used to express that something has already happened, similar to "已经⋯⋯了." However, 都⋯⋯了 is used more emphatically, implying that the speaker holds some sort of attitude in relation to the event, and is not merely objectively stating the facts, as with "已经⋯⋯ 了." The two options can actually also be combined in the pattern "都已经⋯⋯ 了." Here the meaning is the same as "都⋯⋯ 了."

Used before Time

Structure

用在句子的开头,后面常常跟"还"或者"还在"连用,表示对方应该停止某种行为了。

都 + Time + 了

Examples

  • 九点 ,快点 起床 !Dōu jiǔ diǎn le, kuài diǎn qǐchuáng!It's already nine o'clock. Get out of bed!
  • 十二 点 ,你 还 不 睡 ?Dōu shí'èr diǎn le, nǐ hái bù shuì?It's already 12am. Aren't you going to bed?
  • 二十一 世纪 ,你 还 这么 想 ?Dōu èrshí-yī shìjì le, nǐ hái zhème xiǎng?It's already the 21st century and you still think this way?
  • 一 个 小时 ,他 还 在 厕所 里 。Dōu yī gè xiǎoshí le, tā hái zài cèsuǒ lǐ.It's already been an hour. He's still in the bathroom.
  • 一个 星期 ,雨 还 在 下 。Dōu yī gè xīngqī le, yǔ háizài xià.It's been raining for a week and it's still raining.

Used before Predicate

Structure

Subj. + 都 + Predicate + 了

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

Examples

  • ,快 吃 吧 。Fàn dōu liáng le. Kuài chī ba.The food is cold already. Let's eat.
  • 牛奶 ,扔掉 吧 。Niúnǎi dōu huài le, rēngdiào ba.The milk's gone bad. You should throw it away.
  • 说 了 三 遍 ,别 来 烦 我 !dōu shuō le sān biàn le, Bié lāi fán wǒ!I've said it three times already. Leave me alone!
  • 这个 电影 你 看 过 ,看 别的 吧 。Zhège diànyǐng nǐ dōu kàn guo le, kàn biéde bā.You've seen this movie already. Let's watch something else.
  • 道歉 ,你 别 生气 了。dōu dàoqiàn le, nǐ bié shēngqì le.He's made an apology. Stop being so mad at him.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries