HSK 1
都 N
dōu N
both Ns
Structure
Subject (plural) + 都 + Verb / Adjective
How it works
The word '都' (dōu) is an adverb used to mean 'all' or 'both'. It must always be placed after the subject it refers to and before the verb or adjective. It is used to group several items or people together in a statement.
Examples
我们都是学生。
Wǒmen dōu shì xuéshēng.
We are all students.
他们都喜欢喝茶。
Tāmen dōu xǐhuān hē chá.
They all like drinking tea.
这些苹果都很大。
Zhèxiē píngguǒ dōu hěn dà.
These apples are all very big.
Common mistakes
Placing '都' before the subject (e.g., saying '都我们是' instead of '我们都是').
Tip
Even though '都' can mean 'both' or 'all', Chinese doesn't distinguish between the two for groups of two people versus groups of three or more. The context tells you which one it is.
More HSK 1 grammar
See 都 N in real Chinese
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