都 (dōu) is one of those words that on the surface may seem simple, but
actually has many different subtle uses. In this article, we will look
at using [都](都 "wikilink") (dōu) to emphasize quantity.

Structure
---------

You can use 都 (dōu) to emphasize the large quantity of something. The
subject should be some sort of large group (like a majority of people or
things), e.g. 很多人 (hěn duō rén) or 大家 (dàjiā).

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + 都 + Verb + Obj.

</div>
Examples with 很多 (hěn duō)
----------------------------

First let's look at some typical examples using 很多 (hěn duō) to
emphasize that it's "a lot." Note that in English, it would be totally
redundant and unnecessary to add "all" into these sentences, but in
Chinese it's *totally natural* (and kind of weird not to). If you
remember to follow the rule and keep using the 都 (dōu), eventually it
will become more natural for you too.

<div class="liju">
-   <strong>很 多</strong> 地方 <em>都</em> 有
    wifi。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Hěn duō</strong> dìfang
    <em>dōu</em> yǒu wifi.</span><span class="trans">A lot of places
    have wifi.</span>
-   我 的 <strong>很 多</strong> 朋友 <em>都</em> 有
    车。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de <strong> hěn duō</strong> péngyou
    <em>dōu</em> yǒu chē.</span><span class="trans">A lot of my friends
    have cars.</span>
-   <strong>很 多</strong> 美国人 <em>都</em> 喜欢 喝 咖啡 。
    <span class="pinyin"><strong>Hěn duō </strong> Měiguó rén
    <em>dōu</em> xǐhuan hē kāfēi.</span><span class="trans">A lot of
    Americans like drinking coffee.</span>
-   <strong>很 多</strong> 孩子 <em>都</em> 不 喜欢
    上学。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Hěn duō</strong> háizi
    <em>dōu</em> bù xǐhuan shàngxué.</span><span class="trans">A lot of
    kids don't like to go to school.</span>
-   <strong>很 多</strong> 年轻人 <em>都</em> 想 在 大 城市
    工作。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Hěn duō</strong> niánqīng rén
    <em>dōu</em> xiǎng zài dà chéngshì
    gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">A lot of young people want to go
    to work in big cities.</span>

</div>
Examples with 大家 (dàjiā)
--------------------------

Now let's look at some examples using 大家 (dàjiā) or "everyone." Again,
in English, it would be totally redundant and unnecessary to add "all"
into these sentences, but in Chinese it's *totally natural* (and kind of
weird not to). You just have to get used to it.

<div class="liju">
-   <strong>大家</strong> <em>都</em> 来 了
    吗？<span class="pinyin"><strong>Dàjiā</strong> <em>dōu</em> lái le
    ma?</span><span class="trans">Is everyone here?</span>
-   <strong>大家</strong> <em>都</em> 应该
    知道。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Dàjiā</strong> <em>dōu</em>
    yīnggāi zhīdào.</span><span class="trans">Everyone should
    know.</span>
-   <strong>大家</strong> <em>都</em> 说 你 很
    聪明。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Dàjiā </strong> <em>dōu</em> shuō
    nǐ hěn cōngming.</span><span class="trans">Everyone says you're
    smart.</span>
-   <strong>大家</strong> <em>都</em> 忘 了 他 的
    名字。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Dàjiā</strong> <em>dōu</em> wàng
    le tā de míngzi.</span><span class="trans">Everyone forgot his
    name.</span>
-   <strong>大家</strong> <em>都</em> 喜欢 吃辣
    吗？<span class="pinyin"><strong>Dàjiā</strong> <em>dōu</em> xǐhuan
    chī là ma?</span><span class="trans">Does everyone like eating spicy
    food?

</span>

</div>
Examples with 每天 (měi tiān)
-----------------------------

One other common way to use 都 (dōu) is when you're talking about
something that happens really often, such as "every day": 每天 (měi
tiān). Use 都 (dōu) here in Chinese, even if it feels unnatural. (Fake
it 'til you make it!)

<div class="liju">
-   我 <strong>每天</strong> <em>都</em> 要 上班 。
    <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>měi tiān </strong> <em>dōu</em> yào
    shàngbān.</span><span class="trans">I have to go to work every
    day.</span>
-   老师 <strong>每天</strong> <em>都</em> 迟到。 <span class="pinyin">
    Lǎoshī <strong>měi tiān </strong> <em>dōu</em>
    chídào.</span><span class="trans"> The teacher comes late every
    day.</span>
-   她 <strong>每天</strong> <em>都</em> 不 吃 早饭。
    <span class="pinyin">Tā <strong>měi tiān</strong> <em>dōu</em> bù
    chī zǎofàn.</span><span class="trans">Every day, she does not eat
    breakfast.</span>
-   我 女朋友 <strong>每天</strong> <em>都</em> 上 淘宝 。
    <span class="expl pdf-long-expl">*Taobao* is China's biggest online
    shopping website.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ nǚpéngyou
    <strong>měi tiān</strong> <em>dōu</em> shàng
    Táobǎo.</span><span class="trans">My girlfriend goes on *Taobao*
    every day.</span>
-   妈妈 <strong>每天</strong> <em>都</em> 给 我们 做 晚饭。
    <span class="pinyin">Māma <strong>měi tiān</strong> <em>dōu</em> gěi
    wǒmen zuò wǎnfàn.</span><span class="trans">Mom cooks dinner for us
    every day.</span>

</div>
For more uses with 每 (měi), see also: [Expressing "every" with
"mei"](Expressing_"every"_with_"mei" "wikilink").

Other Examples
--------------

Here are some other examples that don't use 很多 (hěn duō) or 大家
(dàjiā) or 每天 (měi tiān), but are still quite typical:

<div class="liju">
-   美国人 <em>都</em> 说 英文。<span class="pinyin">Měiguó rén
    <em>dōu</em> shuō Yīngwén.</span><span class="trans">Americans all
    speak English.</span>
-   我们 五 个 人 <em>都</em> 去。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen wǔ gè rén
    <em>dōu</em> qù.</span><span class="trans">All five of us are
    going.</span>
-   四川人 <em>都</em> 喜欢 吃辣。<span class="pinyin">Sìchuān rén
    <em>dōu</em> xǐhuan chī là.</span><span class="trans">Sichuanese
    people all like eating spicy food.</span>
-   我 的 家人 <em>都</em> 没 去 过 中国。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de
    jiārén <em>dōu</em> méi qù guo
    Zhōngguó.</span><span class="trans">None of my family members has
    been to China.</span>
-   我 的 学生 <em>都</em> 喜欢 问 问题。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ de
    xuéshēng <em>dōu</em> xǐhuan wèn wèntí.</span><span class="trans">My
    students all like to ask questions.</span>

</div>
See also
--------

-   [The "all" adverb](The_"all"_adverb "wikilink")
-   [Expressing "every" with
    "mei"](Expressing_"every"_with_"mei" "wikilink")

Sources and further reading
---------------------------

### Books

-   [Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and
    Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 -
    初中级)](Chinese_Grammar_-_Broken_down_into_100_items_-_Basic_and_Intermediate_Levels_(汉语语法百项讲练_-_初中级) "wikilink") (p.
    313)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ)
-   [卓越汉语－公司实战篇](卓越汉语－公司实战篇 "wikilink") (p. 210)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87-%E8%83%A1%E7%81%B5%E5%9D%87/dp/B003QZWQ6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347863170&sr=8-1)
-   [Basic Patterns of Chinese
    Grammar](Basic_Patterns_of_Chinese_Grammar "wikilink") (p. 34)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899)

[Category:A2 grammar points](Category:A2_grammar_points "wikilink")
[Category: Adverbs](Category:_Adverbs "wikilink")