都
Reach for 都 whenever you want to say 'all' or 'both' about a group already named in the sentence. It sits BEFORE the verb and points BACKWARD at the subject, sweeping every member into the same statement: '我们都喜欢' (we all like it), '他们都来了' (they all came). Tiny word, daily use, can't really speak Mandarin without it.
Structure
[PLURAL SUBJECT] 都 [VERB / ADJ]
dōu
How to Think About It
都 is a backward-pointing scope marker. It always refers to a plural thing that has ALREADY been mentioned earlier in the sentence — usually the subject. You can't put 都 in front of a singular subject ('一个人都') because there's nothing for it to sweep. And the position is fixed: BEFORE the verb. Moving it elsewhere breaks the sentence. Think: 'subject(plural) ... 都 (sweeps) ... verb'.
Examples
我们都是学生。
Wǒmen dōu shì xuésheng.
We are all students.
孩子们都在玩。
Háizimen dōu zài wán.
The kids are all playing.
这些菜都很好吃。
Zhèxiē cài dōu hěn hǎochī.
All these dishes are delicious.
我们都是学生。
Wǒmen dōu shì xuéshēng.
We're all students.
这些苹果都很甜。
Zhèxiē píngguǒ dōu hěn tián.
These apples are all sweet.
他们都不喜欢咖啡。
Tāmen dōu bù xǐhuān kāfēi.
None of them like coffee.
Common Mistake
Learners put 都 in front of the subject ('都我的朋友来了') because they translate 'all' directly. In Chinese, 都 always sits after the subject and before the verb. If you want to emphasize 'all,' you can also use '所有... 都...': '所有的朋友都来了.'
都我们去了。
我们都去了。
Don't Confuse With
也 (also)
也 = 'also/too' (one more case). 都 = 'all/both' (every case in the group). 我也去 = I'm going too. 我们都去 = all of us are going. Don't substitute one for the other.
全 (all / whole)
全 emphasizes completeness as a whole unit (全班 = the whole class). 都 emphasizes that each member fits the description. 全班都来了 = the whole class came (and each member did).
每 + Measure + Noun + 都...
每 means 'each' and very often pairs with 都. 每个人都喜欢 = every person likes it. 每 sets up the 'each-by-each' subject; 都 closes the sentence with the universal verb. They almost always travel together.
也
也 = 'also', adds someone NEW to the group. 都 = 'all', sweeps everyone already in the group. '他也去' (he also goes) vs. '他们都去' (they all go).
全
全 = 'entirely / completely', often used with a single thing or amount: '全班', '全身'. 都 needs multiple members; 全 can describe a whole as one unit.
Practice
我们 ___ 喜欢吃中国菜。
Show answer
都
每个学生 ___ 有书。
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都
Put in order: [都 / 我们 / 去 / 学校]
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我们都去学校。
Translate to Chinese: 'All of my friends like music.'
Show answer
我的朋友都喜欢音乐。
Write a sentence about a group of people doing something, using 都.
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Example answer: 我们家都喜欢看电影。 (Everyone in my family likes watching movies.)
我们 ___ 喜欢中国菜。
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Related Grammar Patterns
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