都

dū, dōu

者 + 阝

HSK 2.0Level 1

HSK 3.0Level 1

Definitions

dōu (adverb) all; both; entirely; even

dū (noun) capital city; metropolis

Etymology

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 多 (many).

Semantic: 阝 Phonetic: 者

About

Phonosemantic compound: 阝 (city) on the right provides the meaning, and 者 on the left the sound. The original meaning is "capital" or "large city" (pronounced dū). When read dōu, it functions as an adverb meaning "all", a sense etymologically connected to 多 (many) and unrelated to the city meaning. In this role it expresses totality, summarizing preceding subjects or emphasizing an extreme case.

Etymology Hide

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Western Zhou (~800 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Spring and Autumn (~600 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Spring and Autumn (~500 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Spring and Autumn (771-476 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

我们都很高兴。

Wǒmen dōu hěn gāoxìng.

We are all very happy.

你们都是我的朋友。

Nǐmen dōu shì wǒ de péngyou.

You are all my friends.

这些书都很有意思。

Zhèxiē shū dōu hěn yǒuyìsi.

These books are all very interesting.

他什么都会做。

Tā shénme dōu huì zuò.

He can do anything.

现在都已经太晚了。

Xiànzài dōu yǐjīng tài wǎn le.

It's already too late now.

连小孩子都知道这个故事。

Lián xiǎo háizi dōu zhīdào zhège gùshì.

Even little children know this story.

无论刮风还是下雨，我都会去。

Wúlùn guā fēng háishì xià yǔ, wǒ dōu huì qù.

Whether it's windy or rainy, I will go.

这件事你都不知道，就太不应该了。

Zhè jiàn shì nǐ dōu bù zhīdào, jiù tài bù yīnggāi le.

It is really unacceptable that you don't even know about this matter.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 者

Component: 阝

Example Words