Introduction
都 (dōu) means "all", but it does not sit where English puts it. 都 is an adverb, so it goes after the subject and before the verb: 我们都是学生。(Wǒmen dōu shì xuéshēng.) — We are all students. Get the slot right and this pattern never troubles you again.
Overview
Structure: Subj. + 都 (dōu) + [Verb Phrase]
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Subj + 都 + Verb | 我们都喜欢中国菜。(Wǒmen dōu xǐhuan Zhōngguó cài.) | We all like Chinese food. |
| Subj + 都 + 是 | 他们都是老师。(Tāmen dōu shì lǎoshī.) | They're all teachers. |
| Subj + 都 + 很 + Adj | 他们都很高兴。(Tāmen dōu hěn gāoxìng.) | They're all happy. |
| Subj + 都 + 不 + Verb | 他们都不来。(Tāmen dōu bù lái.) | None of them is coming. |
| Subj + 不 + 都 + Verb | 他们不都来。(Tāmen bù dōu lái.) | Not all of them are coming. |
都不 (dōu bù) is "none"; 不都 (bù dōu) is "not all":
- 我们都不去。(Wǒmen dōu bú qù.) — None of us is going. Zero people.
- 我们不都去。(Wǒmen bù dōu qù.) — Not all of us are going. Some are.
- Same two words, opposite meanings — whichever comes first is the one doing the work.
- The past-tense version is 都没 (dōu méi): 我们都没吃。(Wǒmen dōu méi chī.) — None of us ate.
Examples
我们都是学生。
Wǒmen dōu shì xuéshēng.
We are all students.
他们都很忙。
Tāmen dōu hěn máng.
They're all busy.
这些书我都看过。
Zhèxiē shū wǒ dōu kànguo.
I've read all these books.
我的朋友都会说中文。
Wǒ de péngyou dōu huì shuō Zhōngwén.
All my friends can speak Chinese.
他们都不喜欢喝咖啡。
Tāmen dōu bù xǐhuan hē kāfēi.
None of them likes coffee.
你们都去吗？
Nǐmen dōu qù ma?
Are you all going?
Usage Notes
- 都 (dōu) looks backwards. Whatever it covers must already have been said: 这些书我都看过 (zhèxiē shū wǒ dōu kànguo) works because 这些书 (zhèxiē shū) comes first.
- ❌ 都我们是学生。(Dōu wǒmen shì xuéshēng.) and ❌ 我们是都学生。(Wǒmen shì dōu xuéshēng.) — 都 belongs between the subject and the verb, nowhere else.
- When 也 (yě) and 都 meet, 也 comes first: 他们也都是学生。(Tāmen yě dōu shì xuéshēng.) — They are all students too.
- 都 also carries a second meaning, "already": 都十点了。(Dōu shí diǎn le.) — It's ten o'clock already.
- 什么都 (shénme dōu) — everything — and 谁都 (shéi dōu) — everyone — build on the same adverb; they have their own lesson.