(dōu) — all, both (indicates totality); even (used for emphasis, often in negative statements); already (before a number or time, often paired with 了)

Definition

都 (dōu) has two main uses: (1) 'all/both' before a verb to mark everyone/everything in a group (我们都去); (2) before a number or time meaning 'already' (都八点了). Don't confuse it with 已经, which only means 'already'.

adverb
allboth (indicates totality)even (used for emphasis, often in negative statements)already (before a number or time, often paired with 了)

Examples

  • Wǒ men dōu shì zhōng guó rén.
    We are all Chinese.
  • Tā dōu bù lái, wǒ men zǒu ba.
    He won't even come; let's go.
  • dōu Bā diǎn le, kuài qǐ chuáng.
    It's already 8 o'clock; get up quickly.

Grammar

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