Comparing "dou" and "quan"
都 and 全 both are adverbs that mean all and sometimes can be used interchangeably (and even sometimes used to together as “全部”). Both words are used in informal or formal settings. Yet, these words do have differences. First, only 都 can also be used to mean at all (usually used in the negative for emphasis) or already. Second, only 全 can be used as an adjective to mean complete or entire.
| 都 (dōu) | 全 (quán) | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | all; at all; already | all; complete, entire |
| Part of Speech | adverb | adverb, adjective |
| Formality | flexible | flexible |
