都 dōu, dū all
all; both; even; already
dōu (all) and dū (capital) - 都是 dōu shì, 首都 shǒudū
How to remember 都: 者 specialist + 阝 city = all. Every specialist in the city is called to the hospital that night, and all of them come.
Component breakdown
都 = 者 specialist + 阝 city
- 者 specialist
- 阝 city
Every specialist in the city is called to the hospital that night, and all of them come.
How it is used
- 'All / both' - it sits AFTER the things it sums up and before the verb: 我们都去 (wǒmen dōu qù) we all go, 都是 (dōu shì) all are.
- It also means 'even' with 连: 连他都不知道 (lián tā dōu bù zhīdào) even he doesn't know; and 'already' with 了: 都八点了 (dōu bā diǎn le) it's already eight.
- Read dū it's an unrelated word meaning capital city - 首都 (shǒudū) capital, 都市 (dūshì) metropolis.
Words with 都
Example sentences
- 他都十岁了。 Tā dōu shí suì le.He's already ten years old.
- 所有人都笑了。 Suǒyǒu rén dōu xiào le.Everyone laughed.
- 我每天都刷牙。 Wǒ měi tiān dōu shuāyá.I brush my teeth every day.
- 我们都去，除了他。 Wǒmen dōu qù, chúle tā.All of us except him will go there.