Already 3 – dōu… le

Grammar Point:
The structure 都 dōu …了le in Chinese is used to emphasize that something has already happened or has been completed. It adds a sense of completion or entirety to the action.

Structure

Dōu + Time + le

都dōu兩點liǎngdiǎn了le， 我wǒ得děi趕快gǎnkuài睡shuì了le都dōu两点liǎngdiǎn了le， 我wǒ得děi赶快gǎnkuài睡shuì了le
It’s already two o’clock. I need to hurry and go to sleep.

你nǐ都dōu22 歲suì了le還hái不會búhuì自己zìjǐ煮飯zhǔfàn嗎ma？ 你nǐ都dōu22 岁suì了le还hái不会búhuì自己zìjǐ煮饭zhǔfàn吗ma？
You’re 22 years old, and you still don’t know how to cook?

沒想到méixiǎngdào都dōu十年shínián沒méi見jiàn了le， 你nǐ最近zuìjìn過guò得de怎麼樣zěnmeyàng？ 没想到méixiǎngdào都dōu十年shínián没méi见jiàn了le， 你nǐ最近zuìjìn过guò得de怎么样zěnmeyàng？
I can’t believe it’s been ten years since we last met. How have you been lately?

因為yīnwèi這zhè案子ànzi， 我wǒ都dōu一個yíge星期xīngqí沒méi睡shuì好hǎo了le因为yīnwèi这zhè案子ànzi， 我wǒ都dōu一个yíge星期xīngqī没méi睡shuì好hǎo了le
Because of this case, I haven’t slept well for a week.

都dōu什麼shénme時候shíhòu了le， 你nǐ還hái不bù出門chūmén！ 都dōu什么shénme时候shíhou了le， 你nǐ还hái不bù出门chūmén！
What time is it? Why are you still here!

我wǒ都dōu等děng了le九十jiǔshí分鐘fēnzhōng了le， 他tā應該yīnggāi不會búhuì來lái了le我wǒ都dōu等děng了le九十jiǔshí分钟fēnzhōng了le， 他tā应该yīnggāi不会búhuì来lái了le
I’ve been waiting for ninety minutes. He probably won’t come.

S + dōu + Predicate + le

我們wǒmen都dōu吃飯chīfàn了le我们wǒmen都dōu吃饭chīfàn了le
We’ve all had dinner.

你nǐ說shuō的de事shì我wǒ都dōu知道zhīdào了le你nǐ说shuō的de事shì我wǒ都dōu知道zhīdào了le
I already know about what you said.

你的nǐde工作gōngzuò都dōu做zuò完wán了le嗎ma你的nǐde工作gōngzuò都dōu做zuò完wán了le吗ma
Have you finished your work?

碗wǎn都dōu洗xǐ好hǎo了le碗wǎn都dōu洗xǐ好hǎo了le
The dishes are all washed.

FYI
While dishwashing machines are becoming the kitchen rockstars in urban China and Taiwan, they face a bit of a housing party pooper. In many older homes, the lack of the cool plumbing setup, including the pipes for these high-tech helpers, puts a damper on their popularity. So, guess what’s stealing the spotlight? Yep, good old handwashing! It’s still the reigning champ, keeping it real in kitchens across the block! ———2023

人rén都dōu死sǐ了le， 你nǐ現在xiànzài後悔hòuhuǐ也yě來不及láibùjí了le人rén都dōu死sǐ了le， 你nǐ现在xiànzài后悔hòuhuǐ也yě来不及láibùjí了le
He is dead; it’s too late for regrets now.

這zhè藥yào的de副作用fùzuòyòng太tài可怕kěpà了le， 我wǒ都dōu胖pàng了le10 公斤gōngjīn了le这zhè药yào的de副作用fùzuòyòng太tài可怕kěpà了le， 我wǒ都dōu胖pàng了le10 公斤gōngjīn了le
The side effects of this medicine are terrifying; I’ve gained 10 kilograms.

Practice

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✔️ I’ve already taken my leave, let’s go on a trip.

假jià都dōu請qǐng好hǎo了le， 我們wǒmen去qù旅遊lǚyóu吧ba假jià都dōu请qǐng好hǎo了le， 我们wǒmen去qù旅游lǚyóu吧ba

✔️ It’s already dinner time, let’s go for a meal.

都dōu晚餐wǎncān時間shíjiān了le， 我們wǒmen去qù吃飯chīfàn吧ba都dōu晚餐wǎncān时间shíjiān了le， 我们wǒmen去qù吃饭chīfàn吧ba

✔️ It’s already autumn, why is the weather still so hot?

都dōu秋天qiūtiān了le， 怎麼zěnme天氣tiānqì還hái這麼zhème熱rè都dōu秋天qiūtiān了le， 怎么zěnme天气tiānqì还hái这么zhème热rè