Deep End
← Grammar guides

Level Independent Chinese · HSK 3

Any, Every and Some: 什么都, 每, 任何, 某 and 不论

Chinese makes "anything", "everyone" and "nowhere" by reusing question words. Put 什么 before 都 and it means everything; add a negative and it means nothing. The same 都 shows up after 每, 任何 and 不论 too.

Question word + 都 / 也

什么都 (everything), 谁都 (everyone), 哪儿都 (everywhere), 怎么都 (no matter how). With a negative they mean nothing, no one, nowhere. The question word comes before the verb.

  • 我什么都吃。

    Wǒ shénme dōu chī.

    I eat anything.

  • 他谁都不认识。

    Tā shéi dōu bú rènshi.

    He doesn't know anyone.

  • 我哪儿也不想去。

    Wǒ nǎr yě bù xiǎng qù.

    I don't want to go anywhere.

每, 各, 整个

每 (měi) + measure word + noun needs 都 before the verb. Doubled measure words (个个, 天天, 人人) mean the same and also take 都. 各 (gè) means "each, various": 各国, 各种. 各位 addresses a group politely. 整个 (zhěnggè) is "the whole" of one thing; 全 is "all, entire".

  • 每个人都有自己的想法。

    Měi ge rén dōu yǒu zìjǐ de xiǎngfǎ.

    Everyone has their own ideas.

  • 他天天都去跑步。

    Tā tiāntiān dōu qù pǎo bù.

    He goes running every day.

  • 商店里有各种各样的水果。

    Shāngdiàn li yǒu gè zhǒng gè yàng de shuǐguǒ.

    The shop has all kinds of fruit.

任何, 一切, 某

任何 (rènhé) + noun + 都 / 也: any at all. 一切 (yíqiè): everything. 某 (mǒu) + noun: a certain (某人, 某天); 某些 is "certain, some". Question words without 都 can also mean "some-": 我好像在哪儿见过他 (I think I've seen him somewhere).

  • 任何人都可以参加。

    Rènhé rén dōu kěyǐ cānjiā.

    Anyone can take part.

  • 一切都很顺利。

    Yíqiè dōu hěn shùnlì.

    Everything went smoothly.

  • 我好像在哪儿见过他。

    Wǒ hǎoxiàng zài nǎr jiàn guo tā.

    I think I've seen him somewhere.

不论…都: no matter

不论 (búlùn) + a question word, A 还是 B, or A-not-A, then 都 / 也 in the main clause. 无论 is more formal; 不管 is the everyday spoken form.

  • 不论天气怎么样，他都去跑步。

    Búlùn tiānqì zěnmeyàng, tā dōu qù pǎo bù.

    Whatever the weather, he goes running.

  • 不管你去不去，我都去。

    Bùguǎn nǐ qù bu qù, wǒ dōu qù.

    Whether you go or not, I'm going.

Common mistakes

  • ✗我什么不吃。

    ✓我什么都不吃。

    Wǒ shénme dōu bù chī.

    For "nothing", the question word needs 都 or 也 before the negative.

  • ✗每个人有手机。

    ✓每个人都有手机。

    Měi ge rén dōu yǒu shǒujī.

    每 is almost always followed by 都 before the verb.

  • ✗不论天气怎么样，他去跑步。

    ✓不论天气怎么样，他都去跑步。

    Búlùn tiānqì zěnmeyàng, tā dōu qù pǎo bù.

    不论 needs 都 (or 也) in the main clause.

Questions learners ask

What's the difference between 不论 and 只要?

不论 says the result holds in every case (whatever happens). 只要 says one condition is enough (as long as). See the guide on conditions.

Can 什么 mean "something" on its own?

Yes, in questions and uncertain statements: 你想吃点儿什么吗？ (Do you want to eat something?).

Practice this in lessons

The Independent Chinese lessons teach this step by step, with exercises and review built in.

Practice this in lessons →

Related grammar guides