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什么都/也

HSK 2
  • Emphasis

Structure (结构 jiégòu)

Subject什么(Object)都/也Verb/Adjective

Meaning (意思 yìsi)

The structure 什么都/也 is used to emphasize the meaning of 'anything also...' or 'nothing at all...'.

Explanation (解释 jiěshì)

This is a generalizing expression used to affirm or negate everything within a certain scope. 什么 here is not a question word, but means "anything" or "everything."

  • Affirmative form: 什么都/也 + Verb (everything/anything also...)
  • Negative form: 什么都/也 + 不/没 + Verb (nothing/not anything...)

都 and 也 are interchangeable in this structure without any change in meaning.

Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)

  1. 他什么都吃。
    繁: 他什麼都吃。Tā shénme dōu chī.

    He eats anything.

  2. 我什么都不知道。
    繁: 我什麼都不知道。Wǒ shénme dōu bù zhīdào.

    I don't know anything at all.

  3. 她什么菜也会做。
    繁: 她什麼菜也會做。Tā shénme cài yě huì zuò.

    She can cook any dish.

  4. 这个商店什么都有。
    繁: 這個商店什麼都有。Zhège shāngdiàn shénme dōu yǒu.

    This store has everything.

  5. 他什么也不想买。
    繁: 他什麼也不想買。Tā shénme yě bù xiǎng mǎi.

    He doesn't want to buy anything.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong:我不知道什么。
    Correct:我什么都不知道。

    The incorrect sentence is a question "I don't know what?" To express "don't know anything at all," 什么 must be placed before 都/也.

  • Wrong:他什么吃。
    Correct:他什么都吃。

    In this structure, 什么 must be paired with 都 or 也; without 都/也 the sentence is grammatically incorrect.