Difference between revisions of "Expressing "every" with question words"

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Revision as of 02:10, 27 December 2017

This grammar point is not about how to use 每 (měi) to mean "every," but rather how to combine question words with (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

  • 喜欢 美食。Shéi dōu xǐhuan měishí.Everyone likes delicious food.
  • 可以 进 。 Shéi dōu kěyǐ jìn.Everyone can come in.
  • 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 + 都 + Predicate

Examples

  • 他 的 房间 里 哪儿 是 脏 衣服 。Tā de fángjiān lǐ nǎr dōu shì zāng yīfu.His dirty laundry is everywhere in his room.
  • 我 太 累 了,哪儿 不 想 去 。Wǒ tài lèi le, nǎr dōu bù xiǎng qù.I'm too tired. I don't want to go anywhere.
  • 这个 周末 我 有 很 多 作业 ,哪儿 不能 去 。Zhège zhōumò wǒ yǒu hěn duō zuòyè, nǎr dōu bù néng qù.I have too much homework this weekend. I can't go 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 行 。shénme shíhou lái dōu xíng.You can come anytime.
  • 什么 时候 开始 不 晚 。Shénme shíhou kāishǐ dōu bù wǎn.It's never too late to begin.
  • 什么 时候 送 过来 可以 。Shénme shíhou sòng guòlái dōu kěyǐ.You can deliver it anytime.

"However Much" with 多少 都

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

Structure

多少 (+ Noun / ) + 都 + Predicate

Examples

  • 你 想 吃 多少 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 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 看 多少 没有 用 。Duōshao qián dōu mǎi bu dào zhège dōngxi.You can't buy this thing at any price.

"However" with 怎么 都

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

Structure

怎么 + Verb + 都 + Predicate

Examples

  • 我 想 怎么 可以 吗 ? Wǒ xiǎng zěnme zuò dōu kěyǐ ma? Is it OK if I do however I want?
  • 别人 怎么 不 重要 。 Biérén zěnme xiǎng dōu bù zhòngyào.It doesn't matter however other people think.
  • 数学 太 难 了 ,我 怎么 学 不 好 。Shùxué tài nán le, wǒ zěnme xué dōu xué bu hǎo.Math is so hard. I can't learn well however I study.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books