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)。

<div class="jiegou">
Topic (+ Subj.) + 什么 + 都 / 也 + Verb / Adj.

</div>
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."

<div class="liju">
-   我 觉得 这里 的 菜 <em>什么</em> <em>都</em>
    好吃。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ juéde zhèlǐ de cài <em>shénme</em>
    <em>dōu</em> hǎochī.</span><span class="trans">I think everything is
    delicious here.</span>
-   中国 的 历史 爸爸 <em>什么</em> <em>都</em>
    知道。<span class="pinyin">Zhōngguó de lìshǐ bàba <em>shénme</em>
    <em>dōu</em> zhīdào.</span><span class="trans">My dad knows
    everything about Chinese history.</span>
-   工作 的 事情 老公 <em>什么</em> <em>都</em> 跟 我
    说。<span class="pinyin">Gōngzuò de shìqing lǎogōng <em>shénme</em>
    <em>dōu</em> gēn wǒ shuō.</span><span class="trans">My husband tells
    me everything about work stuff.</span>
-   妈妈 做 的 菜 我 <em>什么</em> <em>都</em>
    喜欢。<span class="pinyin">Māma zuò de cài wǒ <em>shénme</em>
    <em>dōu</em> xǐhuan.</span><span class="trans">I like everything
    that mom cooks.</span>
-   我女朋友 觉得 外国 的 东西 <em>什么</em> <em>都</em>
    好。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ nǚpéngyou juéde wàiguó de dōngxi
    <em>shénme</em> <em>dōu</em> hǎo.</span><span class="trans">My
    girlfriend thinks that all foreign things are good.</span>

</div>
Structure with a Noun
---------------------

### Structure

<div class="jiegou">
什么 + Noun + 都 + Verb

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   我们 <em>什么</em> 果汁 <em>都</em> 喝。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen
    <em>shénme</em> guǒzhī <em>dōu</em> hē.</span><span class="trans">We
    drink any kind of fruit juice.</span>
-   她 <em>什么</em> 衣服 <em>都</em> 是 黑色
    的。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>shénme</em> yīfu <em>dōu</em> shì
    hēisè de.</span><span class="trans">All of her clothes are
    black.</span>
-   妈妈 做 的 <em>什么</em> 菜 <em>都</em>
    好吃。<span class="pinyin">Māma zuò de <em>shénme</em> cài
    <em>dōu</em> hǎochī.</span><span class="trans">All of the dishes mom
    makes are tasty.</span>
-   我男朋友 <em>什么</em> 运动 <em>都</em>
    喜欢。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ nánpéngyou <em>shénme</em> yùndòng
    <em>dōu</em> xǐhuan.</span><span class="trans">My boyfriend likes
    all kinds of sports.</span>
-   你 不 应该 <em>什么</em> 话 <em>都</em> 跟 他
    说。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bù yīnggāi <em>shénme</em> huà
    <em>dōu</em> gēn tā shuō.</span><span class="trans">You shouldn't
    tell him everything.</span>

</div>
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."

<div class="jiegou">
什么 + Noun + 都 / 也 + 不 + Verb

</div>
<div class="jiegou">
什么 + Noun + 都 / 也 + 没 (有) + Verb

</div>
### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   生病 以后，爸爸 <em>什么</em> 酒 <em>都</em> <strong>不</strong> 能
    喝 了。<span class="pinyin">Shēngbìng yǐhòu, bàba <em>shénme</em>
    jiǔ <em>dōu</em> <strong>bù</strong> néng hē
    le.</span><span class="trans">After dad got sick, he can't drink any
    kind of alcohol.</span>
-   老板 现在 很 生气，<em>什么</em> 人 <em>也</em> <strong>不</strong>
    见。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn xiànzài hěn shēngqì, <em>shénme</em>
    rén <em> yě</em> <strong>bù</strong>
    jiàn.</span><span class="trans"> The boss is very angry. He's
    doesn't want to see anybody.</span>
-   今天 我 不 舒服，<em>什么</em> 东西 <em>都</em> <strong>没</strong>
    吃。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān wǒ bù shūfu, <em>shénme</em> dōngxi
    <em>dōu</em> <strong>méi</strong>
    chī.</span><span class="trans">Today I don't feel well, so I didn't
    eat anything.</span>
-   昨天 开会 的时候，她 <em>什么</em> 话 <em>也</em>
    <strong>没</strong> 说。<span class="pinyin">Zuótiān kāihuì de
    shíhou, tā <em>shénme</em> huà <em>yě</em> <strong>méi</strong>
    shuō.</span><span class="trans">She didn't say anything at
    yesterday's meeting.</span>
-   你 在 家里 怎么 <em>什么</em> 事 <em>都</em> <strong>不</strong>
    做？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zài jiālǐ zěnme <em>shénme</em> shì
    <em>dōu</em> <strong> bù </strong> zuò?
    </span><span class="trans">How come you haven't done anything at
    home? </span>

</div>
See Also
--------

-   [Expressing "every time" with "mei" and
    "dou"](Expressing_"every_time"_with_"mei"_and_"dou" "wikilink")
-   [Expressing "every" with question
    words](Expressing_"every"_with_question_words "wikilink")

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

### Books

-   [Common Chinese Patterns
    330 (汉语常用格式330例)](Common_Chinese_Patterns_330_(汉语常用格式330例) "wikilink") (p.
    195)[→buy](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)
-   [Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical
    Guide](Modern_Mandarin_Chinese_Grammar:_A_Practical_Guide "wikilink") (pp.
    286-8)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108)
-   [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2
    (3rd ed)](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_2_(3rd_ed) "wikilink") (pp.
    216-7)
    [→buy](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)
-   [40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course
    (基础汉语40课下册）](40_Lessons_for_Basic_Chinese_Course_(基础汉语40课下册） "wikilink") (p.
    314)[→buy](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)

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