{{Grammar Box}} 什么……都 (shénme... dōu) is a pattern often used to express "all" or "everything." Because it's not just one word, though, it can be a little tricky to get the hang of at first. == Basic Usage == === Structure === In this structure, 都 (dōu) is more frequently used than 也 (yě)。
Topic (+ Subj.) + 什么 + 都 / 也 + Verb / Adj.
In some sentences, there will be a subject after the topic in the pattern above. See the following sentences for examples. === Examples === When used in the positive sense, it is more natural to follow 什么 (shénme) with 都 (dōu) rather than 也 (yě) to express "everything."
* 我 觉得 这里 的 菜 什么 都 好吃。Wǒ juéde zhèlǐ de cài shénme dōu hǎochī.I think everything is delicious here. * 中国 的 历史 爸爸 什么 都 知道。Zhōngguó de lìshǐ bàba shénme dōu zhīdào.My dad knows everything about Chinese history. * 工作 的 事情 老公 什么 都 跟 我 说。Gōngzuò de shìqing lǎogōng shénme dōu gēn wǒ shuō.My husband tells me everything about work stuff. * 妈妈 做 的 菜 我 什么 都 喜欢。Māma zuò de cài wǒ shénme dōu xǐhuan.I like everything that mom cooks. * 我女朋友 觉得 外国 的 东西 什么 都 好。Wǒ nǚpéngyou juéde wàiguó de dōngxi shénme dōu hǎo.My girlfriend thinks that all foreign things are good.
== Structure with a Noun == === Structure ===
什么 + Noun + 都 + Verb
=== Examples ===
* 我们 什么 果汁 都 喝。Wǒmen shénme guǒzhī dōu hē.We drink any kind of fruit juice. * 她 什么 衣服 都 是 黑色 的。Tā shénme yīfu dōu shì hēisè de.All of her clothes are black. * 妈妈 做 的 什么 菜 都 好吃。Māma zuò de shénme cài dōu hǎochī.All of the dishes mom makes are tasty. * 我男朋友 什么 运动 都 喜欢。Wǒ nánpéngyou shénme yùndòng dōu xǐhuan.My boyfriend likes all kinds of sports. * 你 不 应该 什么 话 都 跟 他 说。Nǐ bù yīnggāi shénme huà dōu gēn tā shuō.You shouldn't tell him everything.
== Negative Structure == === Structures === The negative structure simply adds a 不 (bù) or a 没 (méi) after the 都 (dōu) / 也 (yě). Instead of "all" or "everything," this expresses "none" or "not any."
什么 + Noun + 都 / 也 + 不 + Verb
什么 + Noun + 都 / 也 + 没 (有) + Verb
=== Examples ===
* 生病 以后，爸爸 什么 酒 都 不 能 喝 了。Shēngbìng yǐhòu, bàba shénme jiǔ dōu bù néng hē le.After dad got sick, he can't drink any kind of alcohol. * 老板 现在 很 生气，什么 人 也 不 见。Lǎobǎn xiànzài hěn shēngqì, shénme rén yě bù jiàn. The boss is very angry. He's doesn't want to see anybody. * 今天 我 不 舒服，什么 东西 都 没 吃。Jīntiān wǒ bù shūfu, shénme dōngxi dōu méi chī.Today I don't feel well, so I didn't eat anything. * 昨天 开会 的时候，她 什么 话 也 没 说。Zuótiān kāihuì de shíhou, tā shénme huà yě méi shuō.She didn't say anything at yesterday's meeting. * 你 在 家里 怎么 什么 事 都 不 做？Nǐ zài jiālǐ zěnme shénme shì dōu bù zuò? How come you haven't done anything at home?
==See Also== *[[Expressing "every time" with "mei" and "dou"]] *[[Expressing "every" with question words]] == Sources and further reading == === Books === * [[Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) ]] (p. 195)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7802006473/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7802006473 →buy] * [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 286-8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy] * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 216-7) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy] *[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册）]] (p. 314)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy] [[Category:A2 grammar points]] {{Similar|Expressing "every" with question words}} {{Similar|Expressing "every time" with "mei" and "dou"}} {{Similar|Referring to "all" using "suoyou"}} {{Similar|"Not at all"}} {{Basic Grammar|什么|A2|什么 + 都 / 也⋯⋯|爸爸 什么 都 知道。|grammar point|ASGAQV6C}} {{Rel char|都}} {{Rel char|也}} {{Structure|Sentence Patterns}} {{Used for| Expressing quantity}} {{Translation|all}} {{Translation|every}}