Comparing "dou" and "quan"

都 (dōu) and 全 (quán) both are adverbs that mean "all." Sometimes they can be used interchangeably, and sometimes they can even be used together as 全部 (quán dōu). Both words are used in informal and formal settings. Only 全 can be used as an adjective to mean "complete" or "entire." 都 is used in a wide variety of other grammar patterns which cannot use 全.

B1HSK3ASV4567

	都 (dōu)	全 (quán)
Meaning	all; at all; already	all; complete, entire
Part of Speech	adverb	adverb, adjective
Formality	flexible	flexible

:Yes

Both 都 (dōu) and 全 (quán) are adverbs that can mean "all"

As adverbs, 都 (dōu) and 全 (quán) are often interchangeable

• 我们小区周围都是写字楼。 Wǒmen xiǎoqū zhōuwéi dōu shì xiězìlóu.Our neighborhood is surrounded by office buildings.
• 因为战争，这里的人全离开了。 Yīnwèi zhànzhēng, zhèlǐ de rén quán líkāi le.Because of the war, all the people here left.
• 大家全来了。 Dàjiā quán lái le.Everyone came all over.
• 电子资料和纸质资料我都有。 Diànzǐ zīliào hé zhǐzhì zīliào wǒ dōu yǒu.I have all the information electronically and in paper form.
• 问题都解决了。 Wèntí dōu jiějué le.The problems are solved.

As adverbs, 都 (dōu) and 全 (quán) can be used together

For added emphasis, use them together as 全都.

• 披萨全都吃完了。 Pī Sà quán dōu chī wán le.The pizza was all gone.
• 我们全都是上班族。Wǒmen quán dōu shì shàngbānzú.We are all working people.
• 漫威的电影全都看完了。 Màn wēi de diànyǐng quán dōu kàn wán le.All the Marvel movies were watched.

全 can be used as an adjective to mean "complete" or "entire"

When used in this way, 全 comes before a noun, meaning "entire." 都 cannot be used this way.

Common Phrases

• 全天
• 全公司
• 全国
• 全球
• 全世界

Example Sentences

• 老婆 笑着 坐下 说 ： “ 鱼 我 全 吃 了 。
• 我 要 一 份 全 熟 的 牛排 。
• 我 需要 全天 工作。
• 他 的 英文 非常 棒 ， 可以 去 参加 全国 比赛 。
• 我们 公司 在 全球 都 有 工厂 。
• 全世界 的 人 都 很想 知道 大选 的 结果 。

都 (dōu) can emphasize "all" when there are many

全 is for emphasizing "entire," not "all" of many things.

• 很多 人 都 喜欢 火锅。
• 很多 人 全 喜欢 火锅。
• 我 每天 都 运动。
• 我 每天 全 运动。
• 因为 疫情，很多 地方 都 关门 了。
• 因为 疫情，很多 地方 全 关门 了。

都 (dōu) has many different grammatical uses

The uses of 都 in grammar patterns are so varied that we will not attempt to list them all here. That's what the Chinese Grammar Wiki is for! But we'll give a few common uses of 都 that you are most likely to run into.

都 can be used with 每，covers the meanings of "each" and "every."See the Chinese Grammar Eiki entry.

• 我 每 个 星期六 都 去 游泳。

都 can be used with 什么 to make 什么都, which means "everything." See the Chinese Grammar Eiki entry.

• 我 什么 都 喜欢。

都 can mean "already." In this usage there's also a 了. See the Chinese Grammar Eiki entry.

• 都 6 点 了 ！

Combined with 一点 to make 一点都 (and followed by a negative), 都 can mean "not at all." See the Chinese Grammar Eiki entry.

• 我 一点 都 不 想 和 他 做 朋友 。

都 appears in quite a lot of grammar patterns, so you'll want to get familiar with those on the Chinese Grammar Wiki.

Sources and further reading

AllSet Learning Wikis

• Grammar patterns which use 都 (Chinese Grammar Wiki)

Websites

• 对外汉语教学：怎么区别“都”和“全”？ - Chinese Fever的文章 - 知乎