都

dōu
HSK 1
#68 most
frequent character
all, both, entirely (due to) each
adverb
preposition
conjunction

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

都 has 者 zhě as a sound part and ⻏ city as a meaning part. It first meant 'capital city'. Read dū, it grew to 'city, metropolis'; read dōu, the sense 'all' was borrowed for its sound.

都 as a component in other characters

sound1 character
嘟

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Example Sentences

我们都喜欢吃水果。
wǒmen dū xǐhuān chī shuǐguǒ 。
We all like to eat fruit.
他们都来了。
tāmen dū lái le 。
They have all come.
这个问题都不难。
zhègè wèntí dūbù nán 。
This question is not difficult at all.

Grammar Points

HSK 1
The "all" adverb "dou"
HSK 2
Emphasizing quantity with "dou"
HSK 2
Expressing "already" with "dou"都…了
HSK 2
Expressing "every time" with "mei" and "dou"每次…都

Same Characters, Different Readings

都Du1
surname Du
都dū
capital city, metropolis

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Public Lists with 都

HSK 1
All words for the HSK 1 test
Pronouns & Personal References
I, you, he, she, they, self-referential terms, and polite forms of address.