III. Creating an emphasis on each individual

 

Some measure words and nouns indicating measure can be reduplicated and followed by dōu都(all) to mean ‘each and every (without exception)’, such as gè个, tiān天(day), nián年(year), jiā家(family), rén人(person). This is a very strong way to say ‘every’, stronger than měi每 (every). The emphasis is on the fact that there are no exceptions.

 

1.       Lǎo Wáng de háizi gè gè dōu huì shuō Fǎyǔ. 

          老王的孩子个个都会说法语。

          Each and every one of Old Wang’s children speaks French.

 

2.       Wǒ tiān tiān dōu kàn bào. 

          我天天都看报。

          I read newspapers every single day.

 

3.       Měiguó rén jiā jiā dōu yǒu diànhuà. 

          美国人家家都有电话。

          Each and every American family has a telephone.