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.

Expressing "Everyone" with 谁 都 (shéi dōu)

"谁 都" (shéi dōu) is a pattern used to express "everyone" 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 + Verb Phrase

Examples

• 谁 都 能 学 汉语。Shéi dōu néng xué Hànyǔ. Everyone can study Chinese.
• 谁 都 知道 他 做 了 什么。Shéi dōu zhīdào tā zuò le shénme.Everyone knows what he did.
• 谁 都 想 找 一 个 好 工作。Shéi dōu xiǎng zhǎo yī gè hǎo gōngzuò. Everyone wants to find a good job.
• 谁 都 见 过 美女。Shéi dōu jiàn guo měinǚ. Everyone has seen beautiful girls.
• 谁 都 喜欢 美食。Shéi dōu xǐhuan měishí. Everyone likes delicious food.

Expressing "Everywhere" with 哪儿 都 (nǎr dōu)

This pattern also works with 哪儿 (nǎr).

Structure

哪儿 / 哪里 + 都 + Verb Phrase

Examples

• 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.
• 你 家 太 乱 了 ， 哪儿 都 是 脏 衣服 。Nǐ jiā tài luàn le, nǎr dōu shì zāng yīfu. Your place is so messy. Dirty clothes is everywhere.

Expressing "Whenever" with 什么时候 都 (shénme shíhou dōu)

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

Structure

什么 时候 + 都 + Verb Phrase

Examples

• 你 什么 时候 来 都 行 。 Nǐ shénme shíhou lái dōu xíng.You can come anytime.

Expressing "However Much" with 多少 都 (shéi dōu)

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

Structure

多少 (+ Noun) + 都 + Verb Phrase

Examples

• 多少 钱 都 买 不到 这个 东西 。 Duōshao qián dōu mǎi bùdào zhège dōngxi. You can't buy this thing at any price.

Expressing "However" with 怎么 都 (shéi dōu)

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

Structure

怎么 + 都 + Verb Phrase

Examples

• 我 想 怎么 做 都 可以 吗 ？ Wǒ xiǎng zěnme zuò dōu kěyǐ ma? Is it OK if I do however I want?

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) →buy