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Expressing "already" with 都 ("dou1")

都 yǐjīng

Adverb
HSK 3

Structure

都 + Time + 了 Subj. + 都 + Predicate + 了

Translations

  • already

Definition

“都”表示“已经”，常与“了”连用，强调情况已经发生或达到某个程度。

'都' is used to mean 'already', often with '了', emphasizing that a situation has already occurred or reached a certain extent.

Usage

用于陈述句，结构为“都 + 时间/数量/程度 + 了”，表示已经达到某个时间点、数量或状态，带有出乎意料或强调的语气。

Used in declarative sentences, structure '都 + time/quantity/degree + 了', indicating that a certain time, amount, or state has already been reached, with a tone of unexpectedness or emphasis.

Examples

  • 1 都十二点了，你还在看电视？(It's already twelve o'clock, and you're still watching TV?)
  • 2 他都三十岁了，还没结婚。(He's already thirty years old and still not married.)
  • 3 你都吃了三碗饭了，还饿？(You've already eaten three bowls of rice, and you're still hungry?)
  • 4 春天都到了，天气还这么冷。(Spring has already arrived, yet the weather is still so cold.)
  • 5 我都说了三遍了，你怎么还记不住？(I've already said it three times, why can't you remember?)

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