Expressing "already" with "dou" (Redirected from ASGT1CIR) Level B1 Similar to Expressing "already" with "yijing" (A2) Expressing "already" with just "le" (A2) Expressing duration of inaction (B1) Used for Expressing attitude, Emphasizing Keywords 都, 了 Translations already 都⋯⋯了 (dōu... le) is a pattern used to express that something has already happened, similar to 已经⋯⋯了. However, 都⋯⋯了 is used more emphatically, implying that the speaker holds some sort of attitude in relation to the event and is not merely objectively stating the facts, as with 已经⋯⋯了. The two options can actually also be combined in the pattern 都已经⋯⋯了. Here the meaning is the same as 都⋯⋯了. Contents 1 Used before Time 1.1 Structure 1.2 Examples 2 Used before Predicate 2.1 Structure 2.2 Examples 3 See also 4 Sources and further reading 4.1 Books 4.2 Dictionaries Used before Time Structure When 都⋯⋯了 (dōu... le) is used at the beginning of a sentence, it will usually be followed with 还 (hái) or 还在 (háizài). This implies that the other party should stop some kind of action. 都 + Time + 了 Examples 都 九点 了 ，快点 起床 ！ Dōu jiǔ diǎn le, kuài diǎn qǐchuáng! It's already nine o'clock. Get out of bed! 都 十二 点 了 ，你 还 不 睡 ？ Dōu shí'èr diǎn le, nǐ hái bù shuì? It's already 12am. Aren't you going to bed? 都 二十一 世纪 了 ，你 还 这么 想 ？ Dōu èrshí-yī shìjì le, nǐ hái zhème xiǎng? It's already the 21st century and you still think this way? 都 一 个 小时 了 ，他 还 在 厕所 里 。 Dōu yī gè xiǎoshí le, tā hái zài cèsuǒ lǐ. It's already been an hour. He's still in the bathroom. 都 一 个 星期 了 ，还在 下雨 。 Dōu yī gè xīngqī le, háizài xiàyǔ. It's been raining for a week and it's still raining. Used before Predicate Structure Subj. + 都 + Predicate + 了 The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective. Examples 饭 都 凉 了 ，快 吃 吧 。 Fàn dōu liáng le. Kuài chī ba. The food is cold already. Let's eat. 牛奶 都 坏 了 ，扔掉 吧 。 Niúnǎi dōu huài le, rēngdiào ba. The milk's gone bad. You should throw it away. 我 都 说 了 三 遍 了 。别 烦 我 ！ Wǒ dōu shuō le sān biàn le. Bié fán wǒ! I've said it three times already. Leave me alone! 这个 电影 你 都 看 过 了 ，看 别的 吧 。 Zhège diànyǐng nǐ dōu kàn guo le, kàn biéde ba. You've seen this movie already. Let's watch something else. 他 都 道歉 了 ，你 别 生气 了。 Tā dōu dàoqiàn le, nǐ bié shēngqì le. He made an apology. Stop being so mad at him. See also 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) (pp. 97-99) [ →buy] 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 178) [ →buy] Dictionaries 现代汉语词典（第5版） (pp. 329 ) →buy