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都
dōu
adverb

HSK2 TBCL1
An adverb, which always occurs after the subject and before the main verb or adjective in a sentence.

Structure

Basic form

Subject
他们
他们
Tāmen
都
都
都
dōu
Verb
是
是
是
Object
学生 。
学生 。
xuéshēng.
They are all/both students.
Subject
昨天和今天
昨天和今天
Zuótiān hé jīntiān
都
都
都
dōu
Verb
下雨 。
下雨 。
xiàyǔ
It rained both yesterday and today.
Subject 1
姐姐
姐姐
Jiějie
Conjuction
和
和
hé
Subject 2
弟弟
弟弟
dìdi
都
都
都
dōu
Verb
去 。
去 。
qù
The sister and younger brother will both go.

Negation

Negation can occur in front of dōu 都or behind dōu 都, depending on what we are negating in the sentences. If negation is placed in front of dōu 都, it means “not all”, if behind dōu 都, it means “all are not doing something”. See the comparison:

Subject
我们
我们
Wǒmen
都
都
都
dōu
不
不
不
bú
Verb
去
去
qù
Object
火车站 。
火车站 。
huǒchēzhàn
We all/both don’t go to the train station.
Subject
我们
我们
Wǒmen
不
不
不
bú
都
都
都
dōu
Verb
去
去
qù
Object
火车站 。
火车站 。
huǒchēzhàn
Not all of us are going to the train station (some people go somewhere else).