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Level

[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)

Similar to

- [Expressing "already" with "yijing"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22already%22_with_%22yijing%22) (A2) - [Expressing "already" with just "le"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22already%22_with_just_%22le%22) (A2) - [Expressing duration of inaction](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_duration_of_inaction) (B1)

Used for

[Expressing attitude](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_attitude), [Emphasizing](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Emphasizing)

Keywords

[都](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E9%83%BD), [了](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E4%BA%86)

Translations

[already](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Already)

[![Chinese-grammar-wiki-dou.jpg](Expressing%20%22already%22%20with%20%22dou%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/300px-Chinese-grammar-wiki-dou.jpg "fig:Chinese-grammar-wiki-dou.jpg"){width="300" height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-dou.jpg)

都⋯⋯了 (dōu... le) is a pattern used to express that something has already happened, similar to [已经⋯⋯了](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22Already%22_with_%22yijing%22). 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 -------- [hide]([# "wikilink")\]

- [1 Used before Time](#Used_before_Time "wikilink") - [1.1 Structure](#Structure "wikilink") - [1.2 Examples](#Examples "wikilink") - [2 Used before Predicate](#Used_before_Predicate "wikilink") - [2.1 Structure](#Structure_2 "wikilink") - [2.2 Examples](#Examples_2 "wikilink") - [3 See also](#See_also "wikilink") - [4 Sources and further reading](#Sources_and_further_reading "wikilink") - [4.1 Books](#Books "wikilink") - [4.2 Dictionaries](#Dictionaries "wikilink")

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](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/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)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Chinese_Grammar_-_Broken_down_into_100_items_-_Basic_and_Intermediate_Levels_(%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95%E7%99%BE%E9%A1%B9%E8%AE%B2%E7%BB%83_-_%E5%88%9D%E4%B8%AD%E7%BA%A7)) (pp. 97-99) \[ →buy\] - [现代汉语八百词（增订本）](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D%EF%BC%88%E5%A2%9E%E8%AE%A2%E6%9C%AC%EF%BC%89) (pp. 178) \[ →buy\] ### Dictionaries - [现代汉语词典（第5版）](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8%EF%BC%88%E7%AC%AC5%E7%89%88%EF%BC%89) (pp. 329 ) [→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1)

[Category](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:Categories): - [B1 grammar points](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Category:B1_grammar_points)

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