所有

• Pinyin: suǒ yǒu
• Hanzi breakdown: 所 = 户 (door) + 斤 (axe), meaning 'place/that which'; 有 = 又 (hand) + 月 (moon/meat), meaning 'to have'

Meaning

All; every. Refers to the entirety of a group without exception.

A determiner meaning 'all' that emphasises totality. Usually followed by 的 before a noun: 所有的学生 (all students). Often used with 都 for emphasis: 所有的人都来了 (everyone came). Differs from 每个 (each) which focuses on individuals, while 所有 treats the group as a whole.

Examples

1. 所有的学生都来了。 All the students came.
2. 我把所有的钱都花完了。 I spent all of my money.
3. 所有人都觉得这个电影很好看。 Everyone thinks this movie is great.

Usage Guide

Context: emphasis, totality, everyday conversation

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 所有的票都卖完了。(All the tickets are sold out.)
• 请把所有的灯关上。(Please turn off all the lights.)

Don't Say

• 不要说'所有都'而不加名词 (Don't say 所有都 without a noun — 所有 needs to modify a noun; say 所有的人都来了, not 所有都来了)

Origin & History

所 (suǒ, that which/place) + 有 (yǒu, to have). Literally 'that which one has,' meaning everything in one's possession or everything within a group.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal