Mandarin does not have separate words for ‘both’ and ‘all.’ It uses the same word, 都 dōu, to indicate that a situation is true for the entire plural subject or object. 都 dōu is an adverb and always occurs before the verb. When the sentence occurs in neutral subject-verb-object form, 都 dōu usually indicates ‘both’ or ‘all’ of the subject.
我们都喜欢他。
我們都喜歡他。
Wǒmen dōu xǐhuan tā.
We all like him.
To indicate ‘both’ or ‘all’ of the object noun phrase using 都 dōu, ‘topicalize’ the object noun phrase by placing it before the subject.
那样的音乐，我都喜欢听。
那樣的音樂，我都喜歡聽。
Nà yàng de yīnyuè, wǒ dōu xǐhuan tīng.
That kind of music, I like to listen to all of it.
中国菜我都喜欢吃。
中國菜我都喜歡吃。
Zhōngguó cài wǒ dōu xǐhuan chī.
(As for) Chinese food, I like to eat everything.
Mandarin does not have a distinct word for ‘both.’ To specify that a situation is true for precisely two nouns, your noun phrase must include the number two:
那两本书都很有意思。
那兩本書都很有意思。
Nà liǎng běn shū dōu hěn yǒu yìsī.
Those two books are both very interesting.
所有的 suǒyǒu de occurs before any noun with plural reference to indicate all of the noun. It generally refers to nouns that represent a relatively large number of objects.
所有的车都太贵。
所有的車都太貴。
Suǒyǒu de chē dōu tài guì.
All of the cars are too expensive.
那个饭馆，所有的菜都太咸。
那個飯館，所有的菜都太鹹。
Nàge fànguǎn, suǒyǒu de cài dōu tài xián.
(In) that restaurant, all of the dishes are too salty.
我校的足球队，所有的男的都很帅。
我校的足球隊，所有的男的都很帥。
Wǒ xiào de zúqiú duì, suǒyǒu de nán de dōu hěn shuài.
(In) our school’s football team, all of the guys are really cute.
全 quán occurs before certain nouns to indicate all of the noun or the entire noun.
Commonly occurring phrases with 全 quán include:
| 全家 | quán jiā | all of the family/the whole family |
| 全班 | quán bān | all of the class/the whole class |
| 全国/全國 | quán guó | the whole country |
| 全民 | quánmín | all of the people |
| 全年 | quán nián | the whole year |
上个星期我们全家人都去法国旅行了。
上個星期我們全家人都去法國旅行了。
Shàng gè xīngqī wǒmen quán jiā rén dōu qù Fǎguó lǚxíng le.
Last week, our whole family went to France for vacation.
全班都考得很好。
Quán bān dōu kǎo de hěn hǎo.
The whole class did well on the exam.
双/雙 shuāng ‘pair’ is a classifier:
一双鞋子/一雙鞋子
yī shuāng xiézi
a pair of shoes
双/雙 shuāng also occurs before a noun to indicate double noun or both nouns. It is often used to describe objects that come in pairs:
| 双面/雙面 | shuāngmiàn | both sides; reversible |
| 双方/雙方 | shuāngfāng | both parties (both people) |
| 双亲/雙親 | shuāngqīn | both parents |
| 双姓/雙姓 | shuāngxìng | two-character family name |
| 双人床/雙人牀 | shuāngrén chuáng | double bed |
| 双胞胎/雙胞胎 | shuāngbāotāi | twins |
Mandarin does not have a single word for ‘none.’ Instead, ‘none’ is expressed as:
都 dōu + negation
‘all not’ = ‘none’
孩子都不愿意睡觉。
孩子都不願意睡覺。
Háizi dōu bù yuànyi shuì jiào.
The children are all not willing to sleep. = None of the children is willing to sleep.
我的朋友都没上过大学。
我的朋友都沒上過大學。
Wǒ de péngyou dōu méi shàngguo dàxué.
All of my friends have not attended college. = None of my friends has attended college.
每 měi + number + classifier (+ noun)
every + number + classifier (+ noun)
If the number is ‘one,’ it is usually omitted.
那些书，每(一)本都很贵。
那些書，每(一)本都很貴。
Nà xiē shū, měi (yī) běn dōu hěn guì.
Those books, every volume is expensive.
每(一)个学生都考得很好。
每(一)個學生都考得很好。
Měi (yī) gè xuésheng dōu kǎo de hěn hǎo.
Every student did well on the exam.
我每天都上课。
我每天都上課。
Wǒ měitiān dōu shàng kè.
I attend class every day.
你每两天可以借一本书。
你每兩天可以借一本書。
Nǐ měi liǎng tiān kěyǐ jiè yī běn shū.
Every two days you can borrow one book.
► 35.1
没有/沒有 méi yǒu + noun phrase + negation ‘
there is no noun phrase that is not’ = ‘every noun phrase’
没有人不喜欢她。
沒有人不喜歡她。
Méi yǒu rén bù xǐhuan tā.
There is no one who doesn’t like her. = Everyone likes her.
那個學生沒有一天不遲到。
Nàge xuésheng méi yǒu yī tiān bù chídào.
That student, there is not one single day that he is not late. = That student, he is late every day.
Certain nouns and classifiers can be reduplicated (repeated) to mean ‘every noun’ or ‘every classifier.’ The most common of these include the following.
人人 rénrén ‘everyone’
人人都喜欢吃好吃的东西。
人人都喜歡吃好吃的東西。
Rénrén dōu xǐhuan chī hǎo chī de dōngxi.
Everyone likes to eat delicious food.
个个/個個 gègè ‘everyone’
他们的孩子，个个都很聪明。
他們的孩子，個個都很聰明。
Tāmen de háizi, gègè dōu hěn cōngming.
All their children are very bright.
年年 niánnián ‘every year’
他们的生活不变。年年都一样。
他們的生活不變。年年都一樣。
Tāmen de shēnghuó bù biàn. Niánnián dōu yīyàng.
Their lives do not change. Every year is the same.
本本 běnběn ‘every volume’
他写的书，本本都很好。
他寫的書，本本都很好。
Tā xiě de shū, běn běn dōu hěn hǎo.
The books that he writes, every volume (every one) is very good.
天天 tiāntiān ‘every day’
我们天天吃中国饭。
我們天天吃中國飯。
Wǒmen tiāntiān chī Zhōngguó fàn.
We eat Chinese food every day.
In Mandarin, questions words +都 dōu or 也 yě are commonly used to convey the meaning ‘every’ or ‘any.’
Here is a list of question words +都 dōu or 也 yě with translations and examples. Note that in some expressions, the question word is part of a larger noun phrase.
shéi + dōu or yě
everyone
谁都会做这个工作。
誰都會做這個工作。
Shéi dōu huì zuò zhège gōngzuò.
Anyone can do this job.
谁都要跟张三做生意。
誰都要跟張三做生意。
Shéi dōu yào gēn Zhāng Sān zuò shēngyì.
Everyone wants to do business with Zhang San.
什么/甚麼 + 都 or 也
shénme + dōu or yě
everything, anything
他什么事情都懂。
他甚麼事情都懂。
Tā shénme shìqing dōu dǒng.
He understands everything.
弟弟什么书都喜欢看。
弟弟甚麼書都喜歡看。
Dìdi shénme shū dōu xǐhuan kàn.
Little Brother enjoys reading everything.
哪 + classifier + 都 or 也
nǎ + classifier + dōu or yě
everything, anything
这儿的天气很好。哪天都很舒服。
這兒的天氣很好。哪天都很舒服。
Zhèr de tiānqì hěn hǎo. Nǎ tiān dōu hěn shūfu.
The weather here is very good. Every day is very comfortable.
我特别喜欢看王老师的书。他写的书，哪本都很有意思。
我特別喜歡看王老師的書。他寫的書，哪本都很有意思。
Wǒ tèbié xǐhuan kàn Wáng lǎoshī de shū. Tā xiě de shū, nǎ běn dōu hěn yǒu yìsi.
I especially like to read Professor Wang’s books. Of the books that he has written, every book is very interesting.
哪儿/哪兒 + 都 or 也
nǎr + dōu or yě
everywhere
他妹妹哪儿都想去。
他妹妹哪兒都想去。
Tā mèimei nǎr dōu xiǎng qù.
His little sister wants to go everywhere.
| Q: | 你想去哪儿吃饭？ | A: | 哪儿都行。 |
| 你想去哪兒吃飯？ | 哪兒都行。 | ||
| Nǐ xiǎng qù nǎr chī fàn? | Nǎr dōu xíng. | ||
| Where do you want to go to eat? | Any place is okay. |
shénme dìfang + dōu or yě
everywhere/anywhere
中国人口很多。什么地方都是人。
中國人口很多。甚麼地方都是人。
Zhōngguó rénkǒu hěn duō. Shénme dìfang dōu shì rén.
China’s population is very big. There are people everywhere.
( … Every place is full of people.)
我听说意大利什么地方都很漂亮。
我聽說意大利甚麼地方都很漂亮。
Wǒ tīngshuō Yìdàlì shénme dìfang dōu hěn piàoliang.
I’ve heard it said that in Italy, every place is very pretty.
几点钟/幾點鐘 + 都 or 也
jǐdiǎn zhōng + dōu or yě
always/at any hour
| Q: | 我们几点钟去看电影？ | A: | 几点钟都可以。 |
| 我們幾點鐘去看電影？ | 幾點鐘都可以。 | ||
| Wǒmen jǐdiǎn zhōng qù kàn diànyǐng? | Jǐdiǎn zhōng dōu kěyǐ. | ||
| What time should we go to see a movie? | Anytime is okay. |
什么时候/甚麼时候 + 都 or 也
shénme shíhòu + dōu or yě
always/any time/whenever
爸爸什么时候都很忙。
爸爸甚麼時候都很忙。
Bàba shénme shíhòu dōu hěn máng.
Dad is always busy.
| Q: | 你什么时候有空？ | A: | 我什么时候都有空。 |
| 你甚麼時候有空？ | 我甚麼時候都有空。 | ||
| Nǐ shénme shíhòu yǒu kòng? | Wǒ shénme shíhòu dōu yǒu kòng. | ||
| When do you have free time? | I always have free time. |
The following expressions with 多 duō also express the meaning ‘no matter how.’
多么/多麼 + adjectival verb
duóme + adjectival verb
no matter how adjectival verb
那件衣服多么贵我还想买。
那件衣服多麼貴我還想買。
Nà jiàn yīfú duóme guì wǒ hái xiǎng mǎi.
No matter how expensive that item of clothing is I still want to buy it.
多少
duōshǎo
however many
我跟你说了多少次你还不听。
我跟你說了多少次你還不聽。
Wǒ gēn nǐ shuō le duōshǎo cì nǐ hái bù tīng.
No matter how many times I’ve told you, you still don’t listen.
Question words with 都 dōu or 也 yě and negation are used to express the concept ‘not any.’
Here is a list of question words + 都 dōu or 也 yě + negation, with translations and examples.
也 yě is much more commonly used than 都 dōu when expressing ‘not any.’
谁/誰 + 都 or 也 + negation
shéi + dōu or yě + negation
no one/not anyone
谁也不会做这个工作。
誰也不會做這個工作。
Shéi yě bù huì zuò zhège gōngzuò.
No one can do this job.
谁都不要跟张三做生意。
誰都不要跟張三做生意。
Shéi dōu bù yào gēn Zhāng Sān zuò shēngyì.
No one wants to do business with Zhang San.
什么/甚麼 + 都 or 也 + negation
shénme + dōu or yě + negation
nothing/not anything
他什么事情也不懂。
他甚麼事情也不懂。
Tā shénme shìqing yě bù dǒng.
He doesn’t understand anything.
弟弟什么书都不喜欢看。
弟弟甚麼書都不喜歡看。
Dìdi shénme shū dōu bù xǐhuan kàn.
Little Brother doesn’t like to read any book.
哪/哪 + classifier + 都 or 也 + negation
nǎ + classifier + dōu or yě + negation
nothing/not anything
他哪个菜也不喜欢吃。
他哪個菜也不喜歡吃。
Tā nǎge cài yě bù xǐhuan chī.
He doesn’t like to eat any dish.
他哪个车都没买。
他哪個車都沒買。
Tā nǎge chē dōu méi mǎi.
He didn’t buy a car.
哪儿/哪兒 + 都 or 也 + negation
nǎr + dōu or yě + negation
nowhere/not anyplace
他妹妹哪儿也不想去。
他妹妹哪兒也不想去。
Tā mèimei nǎr yě bù xiǎng qù.
His little sister doesn’t want to go anywhere.
我哪儿都没去过。
我哪兒都沒去過。
Wǒ nǎr dōu méi qùguo.
I haven’t been anywhere.
shénme dìfang + dōu or yě + negation
nowhere/not anyplace
我刚到这儿来。什么地方都不认识。
我剛到這兒來。甚麼地方都不認識。
Wǒ gāng dào zhèr lái. Shénme dìfang dōu bù rènshi.
I’ve just come here. (I’m new here.) I don’t recognize any place.
怎么了？什么地方都没有人。
怎麼了？甚麼地方都沒有人。
Zěnme le? Shénme dìfang dōu méi yǒu rén.
What’s going on? There aren’t any people anywhere.
什么时候/甚麼時候 + 都 or 也 + negation
shénme shíhòu + dōu or yě + negation
never/not anytime
| Q: | 你什么时候有空？ | A: | 我什么时候也没有空。 |
| 你甚麼時候有空？ | 我甚麼時候也沒有空。 | ||
| Nǐ shénme shíhòu yǒu kòng? | Wǒ shénme shíhòu yě méi yǒu kòng. | ||
| When do you have free time? | I never have free time. |
| Q: | 你什么时候看电视？ | A: | 我什么时候都不看电视。 |
| 你甚麼時候看電視？ | 我甚麼時候都不看電視。 | ||
| Nǐ shénme shíhòu kàn diànshì? | Wǒ shénme shíhòu dōu bù kàn diànshì. | ||
| When do you watch television? | I never watch television. |
怎么/怎麼 verb1也 + verb2
zěnme verb1 yě + verb2
no matter how much one does verb1 (the anticipated goal or result is not attained)
When 怎么/怎麼 zěnme is used, verb2 is often a resultative verb.
这个字，我怎么写，也写不对。
這個字，我怎麼寫，也寫不對。
Zhège zì, wǒ zěnme xiě, yě xiě bù duì.
This character, no matter how I write it, I write it incorrectly.
这件事，我怎么做也不好。
這件事，我怎麼做也不好。
Zhè jiàn shì, wǒ zěnme zuò yě bù hǎo.
This situation, no matter how I handle it, is not good.
你做的菜太多了！怎么吃，也吃不完。
你做的菜太多了！怎麼吃，也吃不完。
Nǐ zuò de cài tài duō le! Zěnme chī, yě chībuwán.
You made too much food! No matter how we eat, we can’t finish it.
这个谜语，怎么猜也猜不着。
這個謎語，怎麼猜也猜不著。
Zhège míyǔ, zěnme cāi yě cāibuzháo.
This riddle, no matter how I guess, I can’t figure it out.
The expression 不论/不論 búlùn ‘regardless/no matter how’ may occur before 怎么/怎麼 zěnme.
The meaning of the expression is the same: no matter how much one does verb1 (the anticipated goal or result is not attained).
这个字，我不论怎么写，也写错。
這個字，我不論怎麼寫，也寫錯。
Zhège zì, wǒ búlùn zěnme xiě yě xiěcuò.
This character, no matter how I write it, I write it wrong.
这件事，我不论怎么做也不好。
這件事，我不論怎麼做也不好。
Zhè jiàn shì, wǒ búlùn zěnme zuò yě bù hǎo.
This situation, no matter how I handle it, is not good.