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
Sources and further reading
Books
Category:A2 grammar points