Expressing "everything" with "shenme dou"

"什么...都/也" (shénme...dōu/yě) is a pattern often used to express "all" or "everything". This pattern also works with other question words, such as 哪儿 and 什么时候.

Structures

The structure is very clear, as many Chinese grammar points are.

什么 + Noun. + 都

什么 + Noun. + 也

什么 + 都/也

Examples

  • 以后 你 应该 什么 水果 吃。Later you should eat every fruit.
  • 什么 电影 喜欢 看。I like to watch all the movies. (implying that I like all the movies that come my way)
  • 今天 我 什么 工作 做了。Today I did all my work.
  • 什么 知道。I know everything.

Negative Structures

The negative structure simply adds a 不 or a 没 after the 都/也.

什么 + Noun. + 都/也 + 不

什么 + Noun. + 都/也 + 没

Examples

  • 以后 你 应该 什么 不 喝。From now on,you should not drink any wine.
  • 什么 电影 不 喜欢 看。I don't like to watch any movie. (implying I don't like movies in general)
  • 今天 我 什么 工作 没 做。Today I didn't do any work.
  • 什么 没跟我说。She didn't tell me anything.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books