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In this week’s CGG #126, we looked at how the little word 都 (dōu) does much more than mean “all” and carries how you feel about a situation.
Today’s exercises will help you practice using 都 in real conversations. You’ll get a feel for the small emotional layer it adds, whether that’s surprise, mild complaint, or simply accepting that something is done.
Let’s bring some real feeling to your Mandarin!
🌱 Today’s Easy Exercises
Translate these English sentences into Mandarin:
It’s already midnight, why aren’t you going to sleep?
Even he doesn’t know about this.
You’ve already bought it, so stop worrying about the money.
You’re already this grown up and still can’t cook?
Take your time, and remember: practicing will help you sound more natural and confident in your Mandarin conversations. You’ve got this! 💫
🌱 Translation #1
It’s already midnight, why aren’t you going to sleep?
Here, we’re pointing out that time has slipped away further than expected, and then asking why the other person still hasn’t done what they should. The first job is that feeling of “it’s gotten this late already.” That’s where 都...了 (dōu...le) comes in: you put 都 before the time and close with 了 to say “already,” with a reactive layer of surprise or mild worry on top. A plain 已经 (yǐjīng) would just report the time neutrally, but 都...了 adds the feeling behind it. Then, to ask “why still not,” you need a “how come” question paired with “still,” which is exactly what 怎么...还... (zěnme...hái...) handles.
📚 Structure: 都 + [Time] + 了，[Subject] + 怎么 + 还 + [Negative Verb Phrase] + ？
Let’s break down the translation step by step:
都 (dōu) here means “already,” with a reactive tone.
This isn’t the “all” meaning; it adds surprise at how late it’s gotten.
十二 (shí’èr) means “twelve.”
点 [點] (diǎn) means “o’clock.”
了 (le) marks the change of state, closing the 都...了 pattern.
你 (nǐ) means “you.”
怎么 [怎麼] (zěnme) means “how come” or “why.”
还 [還] (hái) means “still.”
不 (bù) means “not.”
睡觉 [睡覺] (shuìjiào) means “to sleep.”
Notes
Don’t swap in 已经 [已經] (yǐjīng) here. It would state the time flatly and lose the reactive feeling that 都...了carries.
怎么 [怎麼] (zěnme) here isn’t asking for a method. It expresses surprise, closer to “how come.”
The 还 [還] (hái) is doing real work: it stresses that the person should already be asleep but isn’t.
Recap
都十二点了，你怎么还不睡觉？
都十二點了，你怎麼還不睡覺？
都 / 十二 / 点 / 了 / ，/ 你 / 怎么 / 还 / 不 / 睡觉 / ？
dōu shí’èr diǎn le, nǐ zěnme hái bù shuìjiào?
It’s already midnight, why aren’t you going to sleep?
already / twelve / o’clock / (change-of-state 了) / you / how come / still / not / sleep.
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🌱 Translation #2
Even he doesn’t know about this.
