“Mostly” in Chinese – 大都 dàdōu

Grammar Point:
大都 dàdōu is an adverb in Chinese that means “mostly” or “for the most part.” It is used to describe situations, actions, or characteristics that are true in general but may have exceptions.

Structure

S + 大都 dàdōu + Auxiliary Verb or Verb

他們tāmen大都dàdōu會huì去qù參加cānjiā這zhè次cì活動huódòng他们tāmen大都dàdōu会huì去qù参加cānjiā这zhè次cì活动huódòng
Most of them will attend this event.

你nǐ講jiǎng的de話huà他tā大都dàdōu沒méi在zài聽tīng你nǐ讲jiǎng的de话huà他tā大都dàdōu没méi在zài听tīng
He hardly listens to what you say.

這個zhège季節jìjié的de水果shuǐguǒ大都dàdōu很hěn新鮮xīnxiān这个zhège季节jìjié的de水果shuǐguǒ大都dàdōu很hěn新鲜xīnxiān
Most of the fruits in this season are very fresh.

學生xuéshēng們men大都dàdōu已經yǐjīng完成wánchéng了le作業zuòyè学生xuéshēng们men大都dàdōu已经yǐjīng完成wánchéng了le作业zuòyè
Most of the students have already finished their homework.

知道zhīdào這個zhège秘密mìmì的de人rén大都dàdōu已經yǐjīng不bù存在cúnzài了le知道zhīdào这个zhège秘密mìmì的de人rén大都dàdōu已经yǐjīng不bù存在cúnzài了le
Most of the people who knew this secret are no longer here.

天氣tiānqì好hǎo的de時候shíhòu， 人們rénmen大都dàdōu會huì去qù公園gōngyuán散步sànbù天气tiānqì好hǎo的de时候shíhou， 人们rénmen大都dàdōu会huì去qù公园gōngyuán散步sànbù
When the weather is nice, most people go to the park for a walk.

學xué中文zhōngwén的de人rén大都dàdōu是shì為了wèile中國Zhōngguó市場shìchǎng， 而ér不是búshì台灣Táiwān市場shìchǎng学xué中文zhōngwén的de人rén大都dàdōu是shì为了wèile中国Zhōngguó市场shìchǎng， 而ér不是búshì台湾Táiwān市场shìchǎng 🫠
Most people learn Chinese for the Chinese market, not the Taiwanese one.

所以suǒyǐ學生xuéshēng們men大都dàdōu選擇xuǎnzé學xué簡體字jiǎntǐzì、 考kǎoHSK 所以suǒyǐ学生xuéshēng们men大都dàdōu选择xuǎnzé学xué简体字jiǎntǐzì， 考kǎoHSK
That’s why most students choose to learn Simplified Chinese and take the HSK.

Synonyms

大都 dàdōu is more formal and is commonly seen in written or structured spoken language. In casual conversation, phrases like 大部分 dàbùfèn or 多半 duōbàn may be more frequently used.

• 大部分 dàbùfèn: Also means “most” or “the majority of,” but it’s a noun phrase or adjective and usually followed by 的 de.

大部分dàbùfēn的de台灣人Táiwānrén都dōu喜歡xǐhuān吃chī臭豆腐chòudòufǔ大部分dàbùfēn的de台湾人Táiwānrén都dōu喜欢xǐhuan吃chī臭豆腐chòudòufu
Most Taiwanese people like to eat stinky tofu.

家裡jiālǐ大部分dàbùfēn的de家事jiāshì都dōu不是búshì我wǒ在zài做zuò家里jiālǐ大部分dàbùfēn的de家务jiāwù都dōu不是búshì我wǒ在zài做zuò
Most of the household chores at home are not done by me.

• 多半 duōbàn: Can be used similarly to 大都 dàdōu, meaning “most likely” or “mostly,” but is often associated with conjecture or probability.

雖然suīrán他tā父母fùmǔ都dōu是shì台灣人Táiwānrén， 但是dànshì他tā在zài家jiā多半duōbàn說shuō英語yìngyǔ， 所以suǒyǐ中文zhōngwén不太bútài好hǎo虽然suīrán他tā父母fùmǔ都dōu是shì台湾人Táiwānrén， 但是dànshì他tā在zài家jiā多半duōbàn说shuō英语yìngyǔ，所以suǒyǐ中文zhōngwén不太bútài好hǎo
Although his parents are both Taiwanese, he mostly speaks English at home, so his Chinese isn’t very good.

他tā到dào現在xiànzài還沒háiméi出現chūxiàn， 多半duōbàn是shì睡過頭shuìguòtóu了le他tā到dào现在xiànzài还没háiméi出现chūxiàn， 多半duōbàn是shì睡过头shuìguòtóu了le
He hasn’t shown up yet, most likely because he overslept.