adverb HSK 1
all · both · entirely · even · already
Meaning
都 is one of the most common adverbs in Mandarin, typically meaning 'all' or 'both'. It appears before the verb to indicate that the action or state applies to all members of a group or every item mentioned. It can also express emphasis, meaning 'even' or 'already' in certain contexts.
Usage
都 must come after the subject but before the verb. Native speakers use it constantly in everyday speech. When expressing 'even', it often combines with time expressions or unexpected situations. Common mistake: learners sometimes place 都 before the subject, which is incorrect in standard Mandarin.
Examples
- 01我们都喜欢吃中国菜。.We all like to eat Chinese food.
- 02都十点了，你还不起床？, ?It's already ten o'clock, and you're still not getting up?
Common collocations
- 都是all are, both are
- 都不none, neither
- 都有all have, both have
- 都...了...already (emphasizing time passed)
Origin
都 originally meant 'capital city' (pronounced dū). The adverbial use meaning 'all' is a separate pronunciation and meaning that developed over time.