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How to say “everyone” in Chinese with 都 (dōu)

Question Word + 都 (dōu) + Verb/Adj.

都 (dōu) — every with question words

HSK 3Basic/Simple Sentence Patterns

Rule structure

Question Word (谁 (shéi), 什么 (shénme), 哪儿 (nǎ ér) (nǎr)) + 都 (dōu) means "everyone," "everything," "everywhere" in affirmative sentences, indicating no exceptions.

Examples

谁都认识他。

Shéi dōu rènshi tā.

Everyone knows him.

哪儿都可以。

Nǎr dōu kěyǐ.

You can go everywhere.

什么都可以吃。

Shénme dōu kěyǐ chī.

You can eat everything.

Practice

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Characters

Words from this rule

都

dōu

All, both

谁

shéi

Who?

认识

rènshi

To know, to be acquainted with; recognition

他

tā

He

哪儿

nǎr

Where?

可以

kěyǐ

Can, to be able to (permitted)

什么

shénme

What? which?

吃

chī

To eat

很

hěn

Very

好

hǎo

Good, well

Frequently asked questions

How do you say “every with question words” in Chinese with 都?

Use the structure: Question Word + 都 (dōu) + Verb/Adj.. For example: 谁都认识他。 — “Everyone knows him”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

谁都认识他。 — “Everyone knows him”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.

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More HSK 3 grammar rules

想 — as one likes

想 (xiǎng) + Verb Phrase with Question Word + 就 (jiù) + Same Verb Phrase

为了 — purpose, “for the sake of”

为了 (wèile) + Purpose + Verb

什么 — something/somewhere/sometime

Question word in the position of an indefinite object / place / time

越来越 — more and more

越来越 (yuè lái yuè) + Adj.

一边 — doing two things at once

一边 (yìbiān) + Verb 1, 一边 (yìbiān) + Verb 2

如果…就 — if… then…

如果 (rúguǒ)……，就 (jiù)……

万 — big numbers

Number + 万 (wàn) / 亿 (yì)

地 — turning adjectives into adverbs

Adj. + 地 (de) + Verb