Question words as "any/every": 谁都, 什么都, 哪儿都
代词 / pronouns
Tone colorsā tone 1á tone 2ǎ tone 3à tone 4a neutral
A question word followed by 都 or 也 is no longer a question: it takes a universal meaning ("anyone, everyone, everything, everywhere"):
- 谁都知道 = everyone knows
- 什么都想吃 = want to eat everything
- 哪儿都不想去 = don't want to go anywhere
In the negative you get "nobody, nothing, nowhere". An object goes before 都: 我什么菜都吃。
You can also repeat the question word: 谁先到谁买票 (whoever arrives first buys the tickets).
Examples
春节的时候，谁都想回家。
Chūnjié de shíhou, shéi dōu xiǎng huí jiā.At Spring Festival, everyone wants to go home.
我今天太累了，哪儿也不想去。
Wǒ jīntiān tài lèi le, nǎr yě bù xiǎng qù.I'm too tired today, I don't want to go anywhere.
奶奶做的菜，我什么都爱吃。
Nǎinai zuò de cài, wǒ shénme dōu ài chī.When grandma cooks, I love everything.
你想吃什么就吃什么。
Nǐ xiǎng chī shénme jiù chī shénme.Eat whatever you like.
Common mistakes
✗ 我都什么吃。 → ✓ 我什么都吃。
✗ 我不什么都吃 (for "I eat nothing") → ✓ 我什么都不吃。 The negation comes after 都.