The set pattern “都……了”

The pattern “都……了” (dōu... le) shows that a time or a state has already reached a certain point.

It usually carries a tone of: emphasis impatience urging someone on

Core meaning

都 + ... + 了

It is usually rendered as: “it's already …” “it's got to … already” “…, and still …”

都12点了，我们吃饭吧

都12点了dōu shí'èr diǎn leit's already twelve

我们吃饭吧wǒmen chīfàn balet's eat

Here 都……了 stresses how late it has got.

都8点半了，你还不起床吗？

都8点半了dōu bā diǎn bàn leit's already half past eight

你还不起床吗？nǐ hái bù qǐchuáng ma?are you still not getting up?

This sentence carries impatience, or a push to hurry.

我都去过北京了，不想再去了

我wǒI

都去过北京了dōu qù guo Běijīng lehave already been to Beijing

不想再去了bù xiǎng zài qù ledon't want to go again

Here 都……了 stresses more strongly that it has already happened.

都 + ... + 了

Meaning: a time, state or event has already reached a certain point. It is most often used to emphasise, to complain, or to hurry someone along.

都12点了 — it's already twelve 都8点半了 — it's already half past eight 我都去过北京了 — I've already been to Beijing