Table of Contents
都 dōu: all; both; even; already
Start with “all” and “both”, then learn how different sentence patterns give 都 other everyday meanings.

You have learnt the Chinese word for “we” and want to say “We all drink tea”. Where does “all” go? 都 (dōu) is the word you need, but its position differs from English. It also appears in sentences meaning “anything”, “even” and “already”. This guide starts with the basic pattern, then shows how to recognise those other uses without guessing from a single English translation.

1. 都 Means “All” or “Both”: Put the Group First

Two friends both drinking tea at a small café table The same word covers two people or a larger group.

Use group + 都 + verb or description:

  • 我们都喝茶。 (Wǒmen dōu hē chá.) We all drink tea.
  • 我们俩都喝茶。 (Wǒmen liǎ dōu hē chá.) Both of us drink tea.
  • 这些茶都很好喝。 (Zhèxiē chá dōu hěn hǎohē.) All these teas taste good.

The people or things covered by “all” normally come before 都. To say you like all these teas, put the teas first: 这些茶我都喜欢。 (Zhèxiē chá wǒ dōu xǐhuan.)

For everyday practice, describe something your family or friends share. Keep 都 before the verb; do not place it at the end as you might with English “them all”.

2. 都不 vs 不都: “None” or “Not All”?

Two trays of teacups, with all cups empty on one tray and a mixture of full and empty cups on the other None and not all describe different situations.

Moving 不 (bù) changes the meaning:

  • 他们都不喝茶。 (Tāmen dōu bù hē chá.) None of them drinks tea.
  • 他们不都喝茶。 (Tāmen bù dōu hē chá.) Not all of them drink tea.

The first excludes everyone; the second means at least one person does not. This is a common misunderstanding when learners translate “not all” word by word.

For a past event that did not happen, use 没 (méi): 他们都没来。 (Tāmen dōu méi lái.) None of them came.

3. 什么都 and 谁都: Everything or Everyone

Question words do not always ask questions. With 都, they can cover every possibility:

  • 我什么都吃。 (Wǒ shénme dōu chī.) I eat anything.
  • 谁都可以来。 (Shéi dōu kěyǐ lái.) Anyone can come.

Add a negative and the meaning changes: 我什么都不想买。 (Wǒ shénme dōu bù xiǎng mǎi.) I do not want to buy anything.

✨ Did you know? 都 can also reinforce repeated time expressions: 每天都 (měi tiān dōu) means “every day”, as in 我每天都喝茶 (Wǒ měi tiān dōu hē chá), “I drink tea every day”.

4. When 都 Means “Even” or “Already”

Two friends noticing a wall clock during an evening conversation in a café Context helps you hear surprise in 都.

连……都…… (lián…dōu…) highlights a surprising example:

连他都知道。 (Lián tā dōu zhīdào.) Even he knows.

This can sound critical, depending on context and tone. Use it thoughtfully when referring to people.

With time or age, 都……了 (dōu…le) can mean “already”, often with surprise or impatience:

都九点了！ (Dōu jiǔ diǎn le!) It is already nine!

However, 他们都来了。 (Tāmen dōu lái le.) means “They have all arrived”. The presence of 了 (le) alone does not make 都 mean “already”.

Useful Chinese Words and Phrases

  • 都dōuall; both
  • 我们俩wǒmen liǎthe two of us
  • 什么都可以shénme dōu kěyǐanything is fine
  • 每天都měi tiān dōuevery day, before an action or description

A Short Everyday Conversation

Host: 你们都喝茶吗？
Nǐmen dōu hē chá ma?
Do all of you drink tea?

Guest: 对，我们都喝茶。
Duì, wǒmen dōu hē chá.
Yes, we all drink tea.

Host: 你们想喝什么茶？
Nǐmen xiǎng hē shénme chá?
What kind of tea would you like?

Guest: 什么都可以，谢谢！
Shénme dōu kěyǐ, xièxie!
Anything is fine, thank you!

Final Takeaway

For “all” and “both”, put the group before 都 (dōu) and the action after it. Check the position of negatives, then use the surrounding pattern to recognise “anything”, “even” or “already”.

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