Meanings of 都
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 都
Podcast: 都
Podcast: 都
Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you
New here?
AI Study Notes for 都
也 (yě) - use 都 when emphasizing inclusivity of all members in a group, while 也 is used to indicate agreement or addition in a statement.
Imagine a bustling metropolis where everyone is gathered together. The character 都 resembles a roof (亻) over a city (土), symbolizing that everyone under the roof is included. The pronunciation 'dōu' sounds like 'do' in English, as in 'do all the things together'.
Common mistakes include using 都 incorrectly with singular nouns; it should follow plural or collective nouns. For example, saying '我都一个人' (I all one person) is incorrect; it should be '我们都在一起' (We are all together). The tone is important; ensure to pronounce it with a high level tone.
As an HSK Level 1 word, 都 connects well with other basic vocabulary that denotes quantity, such as 每 (měi, each) and 所有 (suǒyǒu, all). Focus on practicing sentences using 都 to reinforce its meaning in various contexts.
The concept of 'all' or inclusivity is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, reflecting the value placed on community and collective identity. For instance, during festivals, it's common for families to say '大家都来!' (Everyone come!) to emphasize togetherness.
Learners often misuse 都 with singular forms, such as saying '我都一个人' instead of the correct '我们都来了' (We all came). Another common error is forgetting to use the correct tone, leading to miscommunication.
Pronunciation of 都
Drill the tone of 都 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.
Etymology of 都
Phonosemantic compound. ⻏ represents the meaning and 者 represents the sound. Based on the meaning "large city, capital", which is the meaning when pronounced "dū". When pronounced "dōu", it has the unrelated meaning "all", etymologically related to
city
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 都?
Decomposition of 都
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 都?
Write 都
New here? to save your writing progress and earn XP.
Practice writing 都 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 都
都 functions as an adverb — it modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In Chinese, adverbs sit BEFORE the verb they modify (我也去, 他常常迟到), never after it. It carries 10 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
...
这都是我做的。
This is all done by me.
Complete the Sentence
同学们____很认真。
The classmates are all very serious.
Common Confusions with 都
Similar pronunciation but different meaning.
都 emphasizes inclusivity, while 也 means 'also' or 'too'.
他也来了 vs 他都来了
都 emphasizes inclusivity, while 也 means 'also' or 'too'.
Spot the Difference
Which character means "all"?
Usage Notes for 都
Avoid overusing '都' in sentences where it isn’t necessary.
我都喜欢吃苹果。
I all like to eat apples.
Fill in the Blank
我____喜欢吃苹果。
I all like to eat apples.
Example Sentences for 都 (54)
Reorder the Sentence
We all like this movie.
Cultural Notes for 都
The concept of 'all' or inclusivity is deeply rooted in Chinese culture, reflecting the value placed on community and collective identity. For instance, during festivals, it's common for families to say '大家都来!' (Everyone come!) to emphasize togetherness.
Word Family of 都
Compound Meaning
What does 嘟 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 都
Yes, 都 can be used for emphasis in Chinese. For instance, saying '他都来了' (tā dōu lái le) translates to 'He has even come,' stressing that he is included among those who have arrived.