Question Word + 都
Whatever/however/whoever
The pattern Question Word + 都 (dou1) transforms a question (Who? What?) into a universal statement (Everyone, Everything). It is the standard way to express 'any' or 'every' in Cantonese.
How It Works
This pattern serves two primary functions:
1. Universal Quantification: It indicates that a statement applies to all members of a set. For example, 'Everyone knows' or 'I eat everything.'
2. Concessive ('No matter'): It expresses that a result remains the same regardless of the choice made. For example, 'No matter where you go, I will follow.'
Key Question Words Used:
- 乜嘢 (mat1 je5) / 咩 (me1): Whatever / Everything
- 邊個 (bin1 go3): Whoever / Everyone
- 邊度 (bin1 dou6): Wherever / Everywhere
- 幾時 (gei2 si4): Whenever / Anytime
- 點樣 (dim2 joeng2): However / Any way
Word Order Rule:
This is the most common trap for learners, though a clause like 食乜嘢都得 keeps the question word after its verb. In English, we say 'I eat everything' (SVO). In Cantonese, you usually move the 'everything' part to the front: 'I everything 都 eat' (SOV).
Negative Usage:
To say 'nothing', 'no one', or 'nowhere', simply use a negative verb like 唔 (m4) or 冇 (mou5) after the 都 (dou1).
Examples (5)
- 邊個都識佢。
Everyone knows him.
Word by Word: Who all know him.
Here, 邊個 (bin1 go3 - who) combined with 都 (dou1) creates the meaning of 'everyone'.
- 我乜嘢都食。
I eat everything.
Word by Word: I what-thing all eat.
Notice the word order: 乜嘢 (mat1 je5 - what) moves before the verb because it is the object of 'eat'.
- 佢邊度都唔想去。
He doesn't want to go anywhere.
Word by Word: He where all not want go.
By adding 唔想 (m4 soeng2 - not want) after 都 (dou1), the meaning becomes 'nowhere' or 'not anywhere'.
- 幾時都得。
Anytime is fine.
Word by Word: When all okay.
幾時 (gei2 si4 - when) with 都 (dou1) and 得 (dak1 - okay) is a very common way to express flexibility.
- 點樣整都好食。
No matter how you make it, it's delicious.
Word by Word: How-way make all good-eat.
點樣 (dim2 joeng2 - how) functions as 'no matter how' in this context.
Common Mistakes
Using English SVO word order for objects.
我食乜嘢都。我乜嘢都食。In Cantonese, the 'whatever/everything' part must come before the verb when it is the object. You cannot leave it at the end of the sentence.
Omitting the particle 都 (dou1).
Different Meaning邊個識佢。邊個都識佢。Without 都 (dou1), the sentence sounds like a question: 'Who knows him?'. The 都 (dou1) is the 'trigger' that turns the question word into a universal quantifier.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the 'Whatever/however/whoever' construction, you need to be familiar with Cantonese question words (like what, who, where) and how the particle '都' (dou1) is used to express 'all' or 'every'. This pattern essentially says 'no matter [question word], in all cases...'
- Question Words Stay In Place
Learners must first understand how question words (interrogative pronouns) function in Cantonese before they can be used in this non-interrogative 'whatever/whoever' construction.
Level 1 - Quantifier + 都都 with Quantifiers
This pattern is a specific application of using 都 to indicate 'all' or 'every case', which is first introduced with standard quantifiers.
Level 2
Related Patterns
- 都Also / All
The core particle used in this pattern, which also means 'also' or 'even' in other contexts.
Level 1 - 無論...都...No Matter...still...
A more formal version of this pattern that explicitly adds 'no matter' (無論) at the start for emphasis.
Level 3 - Object before verb with 都
The specific word order rule that requires moving the object before the verb when using 都.
Level 4 - 一...都唔/冇Not … at All
A similar emphatic pattern meaning 'not even one' or 'not at all'.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Question Word + 都 in Bubblegum
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