Expressing "all" with "suoyou"
In this grammar structure, we learn about a way to say "all of" something. It's sort of like how we might say "all the king's men" or "all the money in the world."
Contents
- 1 Basic Pattern
- 1.1 Structure
- 1.2 Examples
- 2 Advanced Pattern
- 2.1 Structure
- 2.2 Examples
- 3 "Not All" with 不是所有的
- 3.1 Structure
- 3.2 Examples
- 4 See also
- 5 Sources and further reading
Basic Pattern
Structure
This pattern is used to refer to "all" of a noun, with the quantity of said noun usually being fairly large. You may notice that the 的 after 所有 is occasionally omitted.
所有 (+ 的) + Noun
Examples
- 你 买 了 她 所有的 书 ？
Nǐ mǎi le tā suǒyǒu de shū?
You've bought all her books?
- 我 喜欢 所有 我 妈妈 做 的 菜 。
Wǒ xǐhuan suǒyǒu wǒ māma zuò de cài.
I like all the food my mom cooks.
- 他 记得 所有 朋友 的 生日 。
Tā jìde suǒyǒu péngyou de shēngrì.
He remembers all his friends' birthdays.
- 我 的 孩子 看 过 所有 迪斯尼 动画片 。
Wǒ de háizi kàn guo suǒyǒu Dísīní dònghuàpiàn.
My children have seen all Disney animated films.
Advanced Pattern
Structure
所有 (+ 的) + Noun + 都 + Predicate
The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.
Examples
- 所有 人 都 走 了 吗 ？
Suǒyǒu rén dōu zǒu le ma?
Did all the people leave?
- 所有 的 学校 都 放假 了。
Suǒyǒu de xuéxiào dōu fàngjià le.
All the schools are out for the holiday.
- 我们 学校 所有 的 老师 都 会 说 英文 。
Wǒmen xuéxiào suǒyǒu de lǎoshī dōu huì shuō Yīngwén.
All the teachers in our school can speak English.
- 我们 公司 所有 人 都 参加 了 这个 会议 。
Wǒmen gōngsī suǒyǒu rén dōu cānjiā le zhège huìyì.
All people in our company attended this meeting.
"Not All" with 不是所有的
Structure
不是 + 所有 (+ 的) + Noun + 都 + Predicate
Examples
- 不是 所有的 美国 人 都 爱 喝 咖啡 。
Bù shì suǒyǒu de Měiguó rén dōu ài hē kāfēi.
Not all Americans like drinking coffee.
- 不是 所有 问题 都 能 用 钱 来 解决 。
Bù shì suǒyǒu wèntí dōu néng yòng qián lái jiějué.
We can't solve all problems with money.
- 不是 所有 朋友 都 愿意 帮 他 。
Bù shì suǒyǒu péngyou dōu yuànyì bāng tā.
Not all of his friends are willing to help him.
- 不是 所有的 公司 都 给 员工 提供 培训 。
Bù shì suǒyǒu de gōngsī dōu gěi yuángōng tígōng péixùn.
Not all companies provide their employees with training.
See also
- Expressing "Everyone" with "shei"
- Expressing "All" with "shenme dou"
- Expressing "Every" with "mei" and "dou"
- Indicating the whole with "quan"
Sources and further reading
Books
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 283) →buy
- Contemporary Chinese 4 (当代中文4) (pp. 181) →buy
Websites
- Chinesegrammar.info: Chinese grammar 所 (suǒ) structural particle