都 (dōu) - All/Both

都 is an adverb. This is the most important thing to remember. In English, "all" can move around a lot. We say "All of us are here" or "We are all here." Chinese is much stricter. Because 都 is an adverb, it must live before the verb. It also acts like a magnet. It looks backward at the subject to see who it is talking about. It then applies the action to every single one of them. It’s like a grammar traffic light. It tells the verb that the whole group is coming through at once. If your subject is plural, 都 is usually there to help.

1. 1Building a sentence with 都 is like building with blocks. Follow these steps:
2. 2Start with your plural subject (e.g., 我们, 爸爸妈妈).
3. 3Place 都 immediately after that subject.
4. 4Add your verb or adjective.
5. 5Finish with the rest of your information.
6. 6The basic formula looks like this: [Subject] + 都 + [Verb/Adjective].
7. 7For example: 我们 (We) + 都 (all) + 是 (are) + 学生 (students).
8. 8Yes, even native speakers rely on this simple structure every day.

You use 都 whenever you want to emphasize a group. This applies to two people or two million people.

• Use it for "both" when talking about your parents.
• Use it for "all" when talking about your classmates.
• Use it when ordering food for a group. If everyone wants water, 都 is your best friend.
• Use it in professional settings to show team unity.
• Use it when describing a collection of things, like "These books are all mine."

Think of a real-world scenario. You are at a bubble tea shop with three friends. The cashier asks what you want. You all want the same thing. You say: 我们都想要珍珠奶茶。 (We all want pearl milk tea.) It’s efficient and clear.

Do not use 都 if your subject is just one person. You cannot say 我都很忙. That is like saying "I all am busy." It sounds a bit silly, right?

Also, do not use 都 to start a sentence. It needs a subject to lean on. It cannot stand alone at the very beginning.

Finally, do not put 都 after the verb. In English, we might say "They are all here." In Chinese, the "all" must come before the "are."

The biggest mistake is the "English Brain" trap. Many learners try to translate "All of us" literally. They say 都我们. This is a big no-no. It’s like putting your shoes on before your socks. Always put the people first: 我们都.

Another mistake is the placement of 不 (bù). If you want to say "None of us are going," you say 我们都不去. If you say 我们不都去, it means "Not all of us are going." That one little swap changes the whole meaning! It’s the difference between a lonely night in and a partial party.

You might wonder about 全部 (quánbù). 全部 also means "all" or "whole." However, 全部 is more like a noun or an adjective. It describes the "entirety" of something. 都 is the engine that drives the verb.

Think of it this way: 全部 is the whole pizza. 都 is the fact that every person is eating the pizza.

Also, compare 都 with 也 (yě - also).

我们也去 means "We also go" (someone else is already going).

我们都去 means "We all go" (everyone in our specific group).