Flexible use of interrogative pronouns 3: 谁 / 什么 / 怎么 / 哪儿 + 都/也

In Chinese, question words like 谁 (shéi), 什么 (shénme), 怎么 (zěnme), and 哪儿 (nǎr) can be used to refer to every single member, item, method, or place within a given scope. This structure indicates that all items share the same condition without exception.

Grammar Rules

1. Inclusiveness without exception: question words do not ask a question here; instead, they encompass the entire group (“whoever”, “whatever”, “wherever”).

2. Mandatory adverbs “都” (dōu) / “也” (yě): the question word must be followed by 都 (dōu — all/every) or 也 (yě — also/even).

3. Negative sentences: when combined with negative words (都/也 + 不/没), the pattern expresses total negation (“no one”, “nothing”, “nowhere”).

Grammar Structure

Question word (谁 / 什么 / 怎么 / 哪儿) + 都 / 也 + Verb / Adjective

Examples

谁(Shéi)都(dōu)喜(xǐ)欢(huan)小(Xiǎo)丽(lì)。

Everyone likes Xiaoli.

小(Xiǎo)刚(gāng)什(shén)么(me)都(dōu)喜(xǐ)欢(huan)吃(chī)。

Xiaogang likes to eat everything (anything).

我(Wǒ)们(men)怎(zěn)么(me)去(qù)公(gōng)园(yuán)都(dōu)可(kě)以(yǐ)。

Any way we go to the park is fine.

最(Zuì)近(jìn)我(wǒ)觉(jué)得(de)哪儿(nǎr)都(dōu)不(bù)舒(shū)服(fu)。

Lately, I don't feel well anywhere (I feel uncomfortable everywhere).

Important Note

谁都/也 = everyone / anyone / no one (in negation) 什么都/也 = everything / anything / nothing (in negation) 怎么都/也 = any way / however / in no way (in negation) 哪儿都/也 = everywhere / anywhere / nowhere (in negation) 都 (dōu) or 也 (yě) can never be omitted in this pattern.