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HSK 1 Scope Adverb: How to Use 都 (dōu) for "All" and "Both"
In Chinese, the scope adverb 都 (dōu) indicates that an action or state applies to every member of a group mentioned earlier in the sentence. Depending on whether the group has two or more items, it translates to "both" or "all" in English.
他们都是老师。
Here, 都 (dōu) summarizes the plural pronoun 他们 (tāmen) and stands directly before the verb 是 (shì).
× 都我们是学生。
Incorrect. The scope adverb 都 (dōu) cannot be placed before the subject pronoun 我们 (wǒmen). Replace with “我们都是学生。”.
Corrected example: 我们都是学生。
Read the full explanation and examples
What the Scope Adverb 都 (dōu) Means
In the HSK 1 grammar outline, 都1 (dōu) is categorized under adverbs as a scope adverb (范围副词).
A scope adverb defines how broadly the predicate applies. When you use 都 (dōu), you are summarizing a plural subject or topic that has already been stated, indicating that the following verb or adjective applies to the entire group without exception. English speakers must choose between "both" for two items and "all" for three or more items, whereas Chinese uses 都 (dōu) for both situations.
他们都是老师。
Here, 都 (dōu) summarizes the plural pronoun 他们 (tāmen) and stands directly before the verb 是 (shì).
爸爸和妈妈都喜欢喝茶。
When the subject consists of two people joined by 和 (hé), 都 (dōu) naturally corresponds to English "both."
Core Sentence Structure and Word Order
The most important rule governing 都 (dōu) as a scope adverb is that it points backward to the noun phrase before it while modifying the verb or adjective phrase after it. Because it is an adverb in Chinese rather than a determiner or pronoun, it cannot stand directly in front of the subject noun phrase.
- The plural subject can be a plural pronoun, a noun modified by a plural demonstrative, or two or more nouns linked together.
- The predicate phrase can begin with a verb like 是 (shì), a mental verb like 喜欢 (xǐhuan), or an adjective phrase such as 很好 (hěn hǎo).
- When degree adverbs like 很 (hěn) modify an adjective, 都 (dōu) precedes the degree adverb because the scope includes the entire descriptive state.
这些书都很好。
Notice that 都 (dōu) is placed after the plural noun phrase 这些书 (zhèxiē shū) and before the degree adverb 很 (hěn).
Unambiguous Learner Mistake: Pre-Subject Placement
In English, it is completely natural to begin a sentence with "All of us" or "Both of them." When learners translate word-for-word from English, they often place 都 (dōu) at the very beginning of the sentence before the subject pronoun. In Mandarin, placing the scope adverb 都 (dōu) before the subject it quantifies is ungrammatical.
× 都我们是学生。
Incorrect. The scope adverb 都 (dōu) cannot be placed before the subject pronoun 我们 (wǒmen). Replace with “我们都是学生。”.
Corrected example: 我们都是学生。
我们都是学生。
Correct replacement for “都我们是学生。”. The plural subject 我们 (wǒmen) must come first, followed by 都 (dōu) and the verb phrase.
Useful Contrast: Total Negation vs. Partial Negation
When combining 都 (dōu) with a negation adverb such as 不 (bù), the relative order of the two adverbs changes the meaning of the sentence. Neither order is ungrammatical, but they express two distinct logical scopes.
When 都 (dōu) comes before 不 (bù), the scope of "all" applies to a negative predicate. Every single member of the group does not perform the action. In English, this is usually expressed as "none of them" or "neither of them."
他们都不去学校。
Because 都 (dōu) precedes 不 (bù), the negation applies to every member of the group.
When 不 precedes 都, it negates the totality: not all of them, or not both of them. This says at least one member does not perform the action. In ordinary use, it commonly contrasts members who do it with members who do not; the full situation still comes from context.
他们不都去学校。
不 before 都 means not all: the statement denies that every member goes. It is normally used to contrast some who go with others who do not.
Scope Limits and Syllabus Notes
The numbered entry 都1 in the Level 1 syllabus specifically covers this basic scope adverb usage.
Within this foundational function, the item being summarized must represent a plural or collective entity, and it must appear before 都 (dōu) in the clause. In later stages of Chinese study, you will encounter other uses of the character 都—such as meaning "already" or emphasizing extreme cases with 连 (lián)—where it can appear with singular subjects. Those modal and emphatic patterns belong to separate grammar items and should not be confused with the Level 1 scope adverb. Furthermore, syllabus level labels reflect the supplied outline document rather than a guarantee of what a specific test center administers on a given date.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know whether 都 (dōu) means "both" or "all"?
Look at the size of the plural group before 都 (dōu) or in the surrounding context. If the subject refers to two people or things, translate it as "both"; if it refers to three or more, translate it as "all."
If I already use 和 (hé) to join two nouns, do I still use 都 (dōu)?
Yes, in Chinese it is very common and natural to use 和 (hé) to link the nouns in the subject and then use 都 (dōu) before the verb to show that the predicate applies to the whole pair together.
Why does the syllabus list this item as 都1?
The syllabus uses numbers to separate distinct grammatical functions of the same character across different levels. 都1 marks the foundational scope adverb meaning "all" or "both."
