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ChineseGrammarWiki


			
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<p>都 (dōu) is one of those words that on the surface may seem simple, but actually has many different subtle uses. In this article, we will look at using <a href="都" class="uri" title="wikilink">都</a> (dōu) to emphasize quantity.</p>
<h2 id="structure">Structure</h2>
<p>You can use 都 (dōu) to emphasize the large quantity of something. The subject should be some sort of large group (like a majority of people or things), e.g. 很多人 (hěn duō rén) or 大家 (dàjiā).</p>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Subj. + 都 + Verb + Obj.</p>
</div>
<h2 id="examples-with-很多-hěn-duō">Examples with 很多 (hěn duō)</h2>
<p>First let's look at some typical examples using 很多 (hěn duō) to emphasize that it's &quot;a lot.&quot; Note that in English, it would be totally redundant and unnecessary to add &quot;all&quot; into these sentences, but in Chinese it's <em>totally natural</em> (and kind of weird not to). If you remember to follow the rule and keep using the 都 (dōu), eventually it will become more natural for you too.</p>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li><strong>很 多</strong> 地方 <em>都</em> 有 wifi。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Hěn duō</strong> dìfang <em>dōu</em> yǒu wifi.</span><span class="trans">A lot of places have wifi.</span></li>
<li>我 的 <strong>很 多</strong> 朋友 <em>都</em> 有 车。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de <strong> hěn duō</strong> péngyou <em>dōu</em> yǒu chē.</span><span class="trans">A lot of my friends have cars.</span></li>
<li><strong>很 多</strong> 美国人 <em>都</em> 喜欢 喝 咖啡 。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Hěn duō </strong> Měiguó rén <em>dōu</em> xǐhuan hē kāfēi.</span><span class="trans">A lot of Americans like drinking coffee.</span></li>
<li><strong>很 多</strong> 孩子 <em>都</em> 不 喜欢 上学。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Hěn duō</strong> háizi <em>dōu</em> bù xǐhuan shàngxué.</span><span class="trans">A lot of kids don't like to go to school.</span></li>
<li><strong>很 多</strong> 年轻人 <em>都</em> 想 在 大 城市 工作。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Hěn duō</strong> niánqīng rén <em>dōu</em> xiǎng zài dà chéngshì gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">A lot of young people want to go to work in big cities.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="examples-with-大家-dàjiā">Examples with 大家 (dàjiā)</h2>
<p>Now let's look at some examples using 大家 (dàjiā) or &quot;everyone.&quot; Again, in English, it would be totally redundant and unnecessary to add &quot;all&quot; into these sentences, but in Chinese it's <em>totally natural</em> (and kind of weird not to). You just have to get used to it.</p>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li><strong>大家</strong> <em>都</em> 来 了 吗？<span class="pinyin"><strong>Dàjiā</strong> <em>dōu</em> lái le ma?</span><span class="trans">Is everyone here?</span></li>
<li><strong>大家</strong> <em>都</em> 应该 知道。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Dàjiā</strong> <em>dōu</em> yīnggāi zhīdào.</span><span class="trans">Everyone should know.</span></li>
<li><strong>大家</strong> <em>都</em> 说 你 很 聪明。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Dàjiā </strong> <em>dōu</em> shuō nǐ hěn cōngming.</span><span class="trans">Everyone says you're smart.</span></li>
<li><strong>大家</strong> <em>都</em> 忘 了 他 的 名字。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Dàjiā</strong> <em>dōu</em> wàng le tā de míngzi.</span><span class="trans">Everyone forgot his name.</span></li>
<li><strong>大家</strong> <em>都</em> 喜欢 吃辣 吗？<span class="pinyin"><strong>Dàjiā</strong> <em>dōu</em> xǐhuan chī là ma?</span><span class="trans">Does everyone like eating spicy food?</li>
</ul>
<p></span></p>
</div>
<h2 id="examples-with-每天-měi-tiān">Examples with 每天 (měi tiān)</h2>
<p>One other common way to use 都 (dōu) is when you're talking about something that happens really often, such as &quot;every day&quot;: 每天 (měi tiān). Use 都 (dōu) here in Chinese, even if it feels unnatural. (Fake it 'til you make it!)</p>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>我 <strong>每天</strong> <em>都</em> 要 上班 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>měi tiān </strong> <em>dōu</em> yào shàngbān.</span><span class="trans">I have to go to work every day.</span></li>
<li>老师 <strong>每天</strong> <em>都</em> 迟到。 <span class="pinyin"> Lǎoshī <strong>měi tiān </strong> <em>dōu</em> chídào.</span><span class="trans"> The teacher comes late every day.</span></li>
<li>她 <strong>每天</strong> <em>都</em> 不 吃 早饭。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <strong>měi tiān</strong> <em>dōu</em> bù chī zǎofàn.</span><span class="trans">Every day, she does not eat breakfast.</span></li>
<li>我 女朋友 <strong>每天</strong> <em>都</em> 上 淘宝 。 <span class="expl pdf-long-expl"><em>Taobao</em> is China's biggest online shopping website.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ nǚpéngyou <strong>měi tiān</strong> <em>dōu</em> shàng Táobǎo.</span><span class="trans">My girlfriend goes on <em>Taobao</em> every day.</span></li>
<li>妈妈 <strong>每天</strong> <em>都</em> 给 我们 做 晚饭。 <span class="pinyin">Māma <strong>měi tiān</strong> <em>dōu</em> gěi wǒmen zuò wǎnfàn.</span><span class="trans">Mom cooks dinner for us every day.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>For more uses with 每 (měi), see also: <a href="Expressing_&quot;every&quot;_with_&quot;mei&quot;" title="wikilink">Expressing &quot;every&quot; with &quot;mei&quot;</a>.</p>
<h2 id="other-examples">Other Examples</h2>
<p>Here are some other examples that don't use 很多 (hěn duō) or 大家 (dàjiā) or 每天 (měi tiān), but are still quite typical:</p>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>美国人 <em>都</em> 说 英文。<span class="pinyin">Měiguó rén <em>dōu</em> shuō Yīngwén.</span><span class="trans">Americans all speak English.</span></li>
<li>我们 五 个 人 <em>都</em> 去。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen wǔ gè rén <em>dōu</em> qù.</span><span class="trans">All five of us are going.</span></li>
<li>四川人 <em>都</em> 喜欢 吃辣。<span class="pinyin">Sìchuān rén <em>dōu</em> xǐhuan chī là.</span><span class="trans">Sichuanese people all like eating spicy food.</span></li>
<li>我 的 家人 <em>都</em> 没 去 过 中国。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de jiārén <em>dōu</em> méi qù guo Zhōngguó.</span><span class="trans">None of my family members has been to China.</span></li>
<li>我 的 学生 <em>都</em> 喜欢 问 问题。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ de xuéshēng <em>dōu</em> xǐhuan wèn wèntí.</span><span class="trans">My students all like to ask questions.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="The_&quot;all&quot;_adverb" title="wikilink">The &quot;all&quot; adverb</a></li>
<li><a href="Expressing_&quot;every&quot;_with_&quot;mei&quot;" title="wikilink">Expressing &quot;every&quot; with &quot;mei&quot;</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2>
<h3 id="books">Books</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="Chinese_Grammar_-_Broken_down_into_100_items_-_Basic_and_Intermediate_Levels_(汉语语法百项讲练_-_初中级)" title="wikilink">Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)</a> (p. 313) <a href="http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-23&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=536&amp;creative=3132&amp;creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ">→buy</a></li>
<li><a href="卓越汉语－公司实战篇" class="uri" title="wikilink">卓越汉语－公司实战篇</a> (p. 210) <a href="http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87-%E8%83%A1%E7%81%B5%E5%9D%87/dp/B003QZWQ6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1347863170&amp;sr=8-1">→buy</a></li>
<li><a href="Basic_Patterns_of_Chinese_Grammar" title="wikilink">Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar</a> (p. 34) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399373&amp;creativeASIN=1933330899">→buy</a></li>
</ul>


<p><a href="Category:A2_grammar_points" title="wikilink">Category:A2 grammar points</a> <a href="Category:_Adverbs" title="wikilink">Category: Adverbs</a></p>