The good news: 都 dōu almost always works the same way — place it right after whichever noun(s) it’s summing up, whether that’s the subject or a list of objects. Just remember: a Chinese sentence never starts with 都 dōu.
1 Structure
S + 都 dōu + V or SV
他們都會說中文。他们都会说中文。
They all can speak Chinese.
我們家的人都吃辣。我们家的人都吃辣。
Our family all eat spicy food.
我們都沒有錢。我们都没有钱。
We all don’t have money.
日本人都會說日文嗎？日本人都会说日文吗？
Do all Japanese people speak Japanese?
台灣的夏天都很熱。台湾的夏天都很热。
Summers in Taiwan are always hot.
我每天的工作都很忙。我每天的工作都很忙。
My daily work is always busy.
O₁, O₂… + S + 都 dōu + V or SV
狗、貓，我都喜歡。狗、猫，我都喜欢。
I like both dogs and cats.
咖啡、茶、可樂，我都不喝。咖啡、茶、可乐，我都不喝。
I don’t drink coffee, tea, or cola.
中文、英文、德文、韓文，她都會說，超厲害！中文、英文、德文、韩文，她都会说，挺厉害！
She can speak Chinese, English, German, and Korean. She’s amazing!
我爸爸和媽媽都在台灣。我爸爸和妈妈都在台湾。
Both my dad and mom are in Taiwan.
2 Negation
他們都是中國人。他们都是中国人。
They are all Chinese.
他們都不是中國人。他们都不是中国人。
None of them are Chinese.
他們不都是中國人。他们不都是中国人。
Not all of them are Chinese.
中國人不都會說中文。中国人不都会说中文。
Chinese people do not all speak Mandarin.
💬 NOT ALL CHINESE PEOPLE SPEAK MANDARIN
Did you know not all Chinese people speak Mandarin? China is home to a huge range of languages and dialects — Mandarin is the official language and the most widely spoken, but Cantonese, Shanghainese, Hokkien, and many others are alive and well too.
德國人不都喜歡喝啤酒。德国人不都喜欢喝啤酒。
Germans don’t all like beer.
回教徒都不吃豬肉。回教徒都不吃猪肉。
Muslims don’t eat pork.
3 Common Mistakes
Many English speakers tend to place 都 dōu at the beginning of a sentence, since English often opens with “both” or “all.” But Chinese sentences never begin with 都 dōu.
❌都我弟弟和我不會開車。都我弟弟和我不会开车。
✅我弟弟和我都不會開車。我弟弟和我都不会开车。
都 dōu must come after the subject, never at the start of a sentence.
4 Practice
Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.
01They are all close friends.
他們都是好朋友。他们都是好朋友。
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02Not all of us love pizza.
我們不都喜歡披薩。我们不都喜欢比薩餅。
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03Both of you are so weird…
你們都好奇怪…你们都好奇怪…
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04We are all learning Chinese.
我們都在學中文。我们都在学中文。
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05I like both tea and coffee.
茶、咖啡，我都喜歡。茶、咖啡，我都喜欢。
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06None of us have time today.
我們今天都沒有時間。我们今天都没有时间。
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07They are not all American.
他們不都是美國人。他们不都是美国人。
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08Both my older sister and younger sister can swim.
我姊姊和妹妹都會游泳。我姐姐和妹妹都会游泳。
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09Are all of you going to Japan?
你們都要去日本嗎？你们都要去日本吗？
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10Dishes in this restaurant are all very delicious.
這家餐廳的菜都很好吃。这家餐厅的菜都很好吃。
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