Already 3 – 都 dōu… 了 le

Posted on by tiffany

OneDotDot Chinese
Grammar · HSK 2
Grammar Point · HSK 2

Already 3 — 都 dōu … 了 le

都 dōu … 了 le means “already,” but with feeling. It stresses that a time, an amount, or a result has already been reached, often more than the speaker expected.

都 dōu … 了 le Chinese grammar

Compared with 已经 yǐjīng, 都 dōu … 了 le sounds more emotional: surprise, impatience, or complaint. Think “It’s already two o’clock!” rather than a neutral “It is two o’clock.”

1Structure

都 dōu + Time / Amount + 了 le

Use it to say a point in time or an amount has already been reached. The speaker usually feels it’s late, a lot, or too long.

都dōu两liǎng点diǎn了le，我wǒ得děi赶快gǎnkuài睡shuì了le
It’s already two o’clock. I need to hurry up and go to sleep.
你nǐ都dōu22èrshí’èr岁suì了le还hái不bú会huì自己zìjǐ煮饭zhǔfàn吗ma？
You’re already 22 and you still can’t cook for yourself?
没想到méixiǎngdào都dōu十shí年nián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 saw each other. How have you been?
因为yīnwèi这zhè案子ànzi，我wǒ都dōu一yí个ge星期xīngqī没méi睡shuì好hǎo了le
Because of this case, I haven’t slept well for a whole week.
都dōu什么shénme时候shíhou了le，你nǐ还hái不bù出门chūmén！
Look what time it is! Why haven’t you left yet?
我wǒ都dōu等děng了le九十jiǔshí分钟fēnzhōng了le，他tā应该yīnggāi不bú会huì来lái了le
I’ve already waited ninety minutes. He’s probably not coming.

S + 都 dōu + Predicate + 了 le

Use it to say an action or change has already happened or been completed.

你nǐ说shuō的de事shì我wǒ都dōu知道zhīdào了le
I already know about what you told me.
你nǐ的de工作gōngzuò都dōu做zuò完wán了le吗ma？
Have you finished your work already?
碗wǎn都dōu洗xǐ好hǎo了le
The dishes are all washed.
💡 FYI: Dishwashers

Dishwashers are becoming the new kitchen stars in cities in China and Taiwan, but many older homes simply don’t have the plumbing for them. So good old handwashing is still the reigning champ in most kitchens! (as of 2023)

人rén都dōu死sǐ了le，你nǐ现在xiànzài后悔hòuhuǐ也yě来lái不bù及jí了le
He’s already dead. It’s too late for regrets now.
这zhè药yào的de副作用fùzuòyòng太tài可怕kěpà了le，我wǒ都dōu胖pàng了le10shí公斤gōngjīn了le
The side effects of this medicine are terrible. I’ve already gained 10 kilos.
📌 “All” or “already”?

都 dōu also means “all,” so some sentences can be read both ways. Context decides.

我们wǒmen都dōu吃饭chīfàn了le
We’ve all eaten. / We’ve already eaten.

2Common Mistakes

❌ 都dōu十二shí’èr点diǎn，你nǐ怎么zěnme还hái不bú睡shuì？
✅ 都dōu十二shí’èr点diǎn了le，你nǐ怎么zěnme还hái不bú睡shuì？
Don’t forget the 了 le! Without it, 都 dōu doesn’t mean “already.”
❌ 都dōu我wǒ三十sānshí岁suì了le
✅ 我wǒ都dōu三十sānshí岁suì了le
都 dōu is an adverb, so it goes after the subject, not before it.

3Practice

Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.

01I’ve already taken the days off. Let’s go on a trip!
假jià都dōu请qǐng好hǎo了le，我们wǒmen去qù旅游lǚyóu吧ba！
👆 Tap to reveal
02It’s already dinner time. Let’s go eat.
都dōu晚餐wǎncān时间shíjiān了le，我们wǒmen去qù吃饭chīfàn吧ba。
👆 Tap to reveal
03It’s already autumn. Why is it still so hot?
都dōu秋天qiūtiān了le，怎么zěnme天气tiānqì还hái这么zhème热rè？
👆 Tap to reveal
04It’s already eleven o’clock. Why are you still in bed?
都dōu十一shíyī点diǎn了le，你nǐ怎么zěnme还hái在zài睡shuì？
👆 Tap to reveal
05I’ve already said it three times!
我wǒ都dōu说shuō了le三sān次cì了le！
👆 Tap to reveal
06You’re already 18. You should get a job.
你nǐ都dōu十八shíbā岁suì了le，应该yīnggāi去qù找zhǎo工作gōngzuò了le。
👆 Tap to reveal
07The tickets are already sold out.
票piào都dōu卖mài完wán了le。
👆 Tap to reveal
08I’ve already eaten three bowls of rice, but I’m still hungry.
我wǒ都dōu吃chī了le三sān碗wǎn饭fàn了le，还hái是shì很hěn饿è。
👆 Tap to reveal

Related Grammar

→了₂ le — new situation(HSK 2)

Enjoyed this post? Buy me a coffee so I can keep writing more of these ☕

Support OneDotDot Chinese