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 (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

"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

This pattern also works with 哪儿 (nǎr).

Structure

哪儿 / 哪里 + 都 + Verb Phrase

Examples

  • 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.
  • 你 家 太 乱 了 , 哪儿 是 脏 衣服 。Nǐ jiā tài luàn le, nǎr dōu shì zāng yīfu. Your place is so messy. Dirty clothes is everywhere.
  • 昨天 运动 得 太 厉害 了 , 现在 哪儿 疼 。 Zuótiān yùndòng de tài lìhai le, xiànzài nǎr dōu téng. I exercised too much yesterday. Now every part of my body hurts.

Expressing "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 + 都 + Verb Phrase

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.
  • 我 家 什么 时候 有 人 在 。 Wǒ jiā shénme shíhou dōu yǒu rén zài. There is always someone at home.

Expressing "However Much" with 多少 都

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

Structure

多少 (+ Noun) + 都 + Verb Phrase

Examples

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

Expressing "However" with 怎么 都

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

Structure

怎么 + 都 + Verb Phrase

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.
  • 这 件 衣服 怎么 穿 好看 。 Zhè jiàn yīfu zěnme chuān dōu hǎokàn. This clothing looks good however you wear it.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books