# Emphasizing quantity with "都"

<SentenceQuiz>

- **很 多** 地方 _都_ 有 wifi。
  <!-- - **Hěn duō** dìfang _dōu_ yǒu wifi. -->
  - A lot of places have wifi.
- 我 的 **很 多** 朋友 _都_ 有 车。
  <!-- - Wǒ de **hěn duō** péngyou _dōu_ yǒu chē. -->
  - A lot of my friends have cars.
- **很 多** 美国人 _都_ 喜欢 喝 咖啡 。
  <!-- - **Hěn duō** Měiguó rén _dōu_ xǐhuan hē kāfēi. -->
  - A lot of Americans like drinking coffee.
- **很 多** 孩子 _都_ 不 喜欢 上学。
  <!-- - **Hěn duō** háizi _dōu_ bù xǐhuan shàngxué. -->
  - A lot of kids don't like to go to school.
- **很 多** 年轻人 _都_ 想 在 大 城市 工作。
  <!-- - **Hěn duō** niánqīng rén _dōu_ xiǎng zài dà chéngshì gōngzuò. -->
  - A lot of young people want to go to work in big cities.
- **大家** _都_ 来 了 吗？
  <!-- - **Dàjiā** _dōu_ lái le ma? -->
  - Is everyone here?
- **大家** _都_ 应该 知道。
  <!-- - **Dàjiā** _dōu_ yīnggāi zhīdào. -->
  - Everyone should know.
- **大家** _都_ 说 你 很 聪明。
  <!-- - **Dàjiā** _dōu_ shuō nǐ hěn cōngming. -->
  - Everyone says you're smart.
- **大家** _都_ 忘 了 他 的 名字。
  <!-- - **Dàjiā** _dōu_ wàng le tā de míngzi. -->
  - Everyone forgot his name.
- **大家** _都_ 喜欢 吃辣 吗？
  <!-- - **Dàjiā** _dōu_ xǐhuan chī là ma? -->
  - Does everyone like eating spicy food?
- 我 **每天** _都_ 要 上班 。
  <!-- - Wǒ **měi tiān** _dōu_ yào shàngbān. -->
  - I have to go to work every day.
- 老师 **每天** _都_ 迟到。
  - Lǎoshī **měi tiān** _dōu_ chídào.
  <!-- - The teacher comes late every day. -->
- 她 **每天** _都_ 不 吃 早饭。
  <!-- - Tā **měi tiān** _dōu_ bù chī zǎofàn. -->
  - Every day, she does not eat breakfast.
- 我 女朋友 **每天** _都_ 上 淘宝 。
  <!-- - _Taobao_ is China's biggest online shopping website. -->
  - Wǒ nǚpéngyou **měi tiān** _dōu_ shàng Táobǎo.My girlfriend goes on _Taobao_ every day.
- 妈妈 **每天** _都_ 给 我们 做 晚饭。
  <!-- - Māma **měi tiān** _dōu_ gěi wǒmen zuò wǎnfàn. -->
  - Mom cooks dinner for us every day.
- 美国人 _都_ 说 英文。
  <!-- - Měiguó rén _dōu_ shuō Yīngwén. -->
  - Americans all speak English.
- 我们 五 个 人 _都_ 去。
  <!-- - Wǒmen wǔ gè rén _dōu_ qù. -->
  - All five of us are going.
- 四川人 _都_ 喜欢 吃辣。
  <!-- - Sìchuān rén _dōu_ xǐhuan chī là. -->
  - Sichuanese people all like eating spicy food.
- 我 的 家人 _都_ 没 去 过 中国。
  <!-- - Wǒ de jiārén _dōu_ méi qù guo Zhōngguó. -->
  - None of my family members has been to China.
- 我 的 学生 _都_ 喜欢 问 问题。
  <!-- - Wǒ de xuéshēng _dōu_ xǐhuan wèn wèntí. -->
  - My students all like to ask questions.

</SentenceQuiz>

<TOC>

- Level: [A2](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/A2_grammar_points) / [HSK2](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/HSK2_grammar_points)
- Similar to
  - [The "all" adverb "都"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/The_%22all%22_adverb_%22dou%22) (A1)
  - [Expressing "all" with "所有"](../B1/所有.md) (B1)
  - [Expressing "every time" with "每" and "都"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22every_time%22_with_%22mei%22_and_%22dou%22) (B1)
  - [Expressing "no exception" with "一律"](../C1/adverbs/一律.md) (C1)
- Used for: [Emphasizing](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Emphasizing), [Expressing quantity](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_quantity)
- Keywords" [都](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E9%83%BD)

</TOC>

都 (dōu) is one of those words that on the surface may seem simple, but actually has many different subtle uses. In this article, we will look at using [都](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E9%83%BD) (dōu) to emphasize quantity.

## Structure

You can use 都 (dōu) to emphasize the large quantity of something. The subject should be some sort of large group (like a majority of people or things), e.g. 很多人 (hěn duō rén) or 大家 (dàjiā).

Subj. + 都 + Verb + Obj.

## Examples with 很多 (hěn duō)

First let's look at some typical examples using 很多 (hěn duō) to emphasize that it's "a lot." Note that in English, it would be totally redundant and unnecessary to add "all" into these sentences, but in Chinese it's _totally natural_ (and kind of weird not to). If you remember to follow the rule and keep using the 都 (dōu), eventually it will become more natural for you too.

- **很 多** 地方 _都_ 有 wifi。
  <!-- - **Hěn duō** dìfang _dōu_ yǒu wifi. -->
  - A lot of places have wifi.
- 我 的 **很 多** 朋友 _都_ 有 车。
  <!-- - Wǒ de **hěn duō** péngyou _dōu_ yǒu chē. -->
  - A lot of my friends have cars.
- **很 多** 美国人 _都_ 喜欢 喝 咖啡 。
  <!-- - **Hěn duō** Měiguó rén _dōu_ xǐhuan hē kāfēi. -->
  - A lot of Americans like drinking coffee.
- **很 多** 孩子 _都_ 不 喜欢 上学。
  <!-- - **Hěn duō** háizi _dōu_ bù xǐhuan shàngxué. -->
  - A lot of kids don't like to go to school.
- **很 多** 年轻人 _都_ 想 在 大 城市 工作。
  <!-- - **Hěn duō** niánqīng rén _dōu_ xiǎng zài dà chéngshì gōngzuò. -->
  - A lot of young people want to go to work in big cities.

## Examples with 大家 (dàjiā)

Now let's look at some examples using 大家 (dàjiā) or "everyone." Again, in English, it would be totally redundant and unnecessary to add "all" into these sentences, but in Chinese it's _totally natural_ (and kind of weird not to). You just have to get used to it.

- **大家** _都_ 来 了 吗？
  <!-- - **Dàjiā** _dōu_ lái le ma? -->
  - Is everyone here?
- **大家** _都_ 应该 知道。
  <!-- - **Dàjiā** _dōu_ yīnggāi zhīdào. -->
  - Everyone should know.
- **大家** _都_ 说 你 很 聪明。
  <!-- - **Dàjiā** _dōu_ shuō nǐ hěn cōngming. -->
  - Everyone says you're smart.
- **大家** _都_ 忘 了 他 的 名字。
  <!-- - **Dàjiā** _dōu_ wàng le tā de míngzi. -->
  - Everyone forgot his name.
- **大家** _都_ 喜欢 吃辣 吗？
  <!-- - **Dàjiā** _dōu_ xǐhuan chī là ma? -->
  - Does everyone like eating spicy food?

## Examples with 每天 (měi tiān)

One other common way to use 都 (dōu) is when you're talking about something that happens really often, such as "every day": 每天 (měi tiān). Use 都 (dōu) here in Chinese, even if it feels unnatural. (Fake it 'til you make it!)

- 我 **每天** _都_ 要 上班 。
  <!-- - Wǒ **měi tiān** _dōu_ yào shàngbān. -->
  - I have to go to work every day.
- 老师 **每天** _都_ 迟到。
  - Lǎoshī **měi tiān** _dōu_ chídào.
  <!-- - The teacher comes late every day. -->
- 她 **每天** _都_ 不 吃 早饭。
  <!-- - Tā **měi tiān** _dōu_ bù chī zǎofàn. -->
  - Every day, she does not eat breakfast.
- 我 女朋友 **每天** _都_ 上 淘宝 。
  <!-- - _Taobao_ is China's biggest online shopping website. -->
  - Wǒ nǚpéngyou **měi tiān** _dōu_ shàng Táobǎo.My girlfriend goes on _Taobao_ every day.
- 妈妈 **每天** _都_ 给 我们 做 晚饭。
  <!-- - Māma **měi tiān** _dōu_ gěi wǒmen zuò wǎnfàn. -->
  - Mom cooks dinner for us every day.

For more uses with 每 (měi), see also: [Expressing "every" with "mei"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22every%22_with_%22mei%22).

## Other Examples

Here are some other examples that don't use 很多 (hěn duō) or 大家 (dàjiā) or 每天 (měi tiān), but are still quite typical:

- 美国人 _都_ 说 英文。
  <!-- - Měiguó rén _dōu_ shuō Yīngwén. -->
  - Americans all speak English.
- 我们 五 个 人 _都_ 去。
  <!-- - Wǒmen wǔ gè rén _dōu_ qù. -->
  - All five of us are going.
- 四川人 _都_ 喜欢 吃辣。
  <!-- - Sìchuān rén _dōu_ xǐhuan chī là. -->
  - Sichuanese people all like eating spicy food.
- 我 的 家人 _都_ 没 去 过 中国。
  <!-- - Wǒ de jiārén _dōu_ méi qù guo Zhōngguó. -->
  - None of my family members has been to China.
- 我 的 学生 _都_ 喜欢 问 问题。
  <!-- - Wǒ de xuéshēng _dōu_ xǐhuan wèn wèntí. -->
  - My students all like to ask questions.

## See also

- [The "all" adverb](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/The_%22all%22_adverb)
- [Expressing "every" with "每"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22every%22_with_%22mei%22)

## Sources and further reading

### Books

- [Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)](<https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Chinese_Grammar_-_Broken_down_into_100_items_-_Basic_and_Intermediate_Levels_(%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95%E7%99%BE%E9%A1%B9%E8%AE%B2%E7%BB%83_-_%E5%88%9D%E4%B8%AD%E7%BA%A7)>) (pp. 313) [Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy](https://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA,)
- [卓越汉语－公司实战篇](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%EF%BC%8D%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87) (pp. 210) [卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy](http://amzn.to/2z4g8q6,)
- [Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Basic_Patterns_of_Chinese_Grammar) (pp. 34) [Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy](https://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA,)