都

• Pinyin: dōu
• Hanzi breakdown: 都 = 者 (one who) + 阝(city) — originally 'capital city,' extended to 'all'

Meaning

All; both; every. An adverb indicating totality or universality.

Placed before the verb to indicate that the preceding subject or objects are all included. 我们都喜欢 (we all like). Also used for emphasis in the 连...都... pattern (even...). Position is critical — 都 comes after the subject and before the verb.

Examples

1. 我们都是学生。 We are all students.
2. 他什么都吃。 He eats everything.
3. 大家都来了。 Everyone has come.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, grammar

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我们都去。(We are all going.)
• 这些我都要。(I want all of these.)

Don't Say

• 都我们是学生 (都 must come after the subject — say 我们都是学生)

Origin & History

Originally meant 'capital city' (都城). The adverbial meaning 'all, every' is a later extension, possibly from the sense that a capital gathers all things together.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal