凡 for Every Member of a Defined Class in Chinese
凡
凡 introduces all people, things, or cases that satisfy a stated qualification. It commonly precedes the defining class and may be followed later by 都 or 皆 before the shared predicate. This universal use differs from numerical 凡 meaning a total of, and from 凡是, which overtly includes 是.
Published July 26, 2026
Reviewed July 26, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
凡 + qualifying class or clause，(都/皆) + shared predicate
Read the structure
凡 introduces all people, things, or cases that satisfy a stated qualification. It commonly precedes the defining class and may be followed later by 都 or 皆 before the shared predicate. This universal use differs from numerical 凡 meaning a total of, and from 凡是, which overtly includes 是. Keep the model 凡 + qualifying class or clause，(都/皆) + shared predicate visible while you compare each sentence.
凡参加者都要登记。
Every participant must register.
Choose the right context
State a rule applying to every member that meets a qualification. Put 凡 before the class-defining noun phrase or clause. Use 都 or 皆 when an explicit totalizing marker helps clarify the shared predicate.
凡有疑问，请及时提出。
Anyone with questions should raise them promptly.
Respect the boundary
Do not place 凡 after the predicate it quantifies. Do not assume 都 is mandatory in every formal sentence. Do not confuse universal 凡 with its counting sense meaning a total of.
参加者凡都要登记。
(Every participant must register.)
Repair the pattern
凡 is placed after the class it introduces: Universal 凡 must introduce the qualifying class before the predicate shared by all its members. 凡 and 凡是 are redundantly stacked: Choose 凡 or 凡是 once. Repeating both forms adds no grammatical scope.
凡参加者都要登记。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
凡参加者都要登记。
Every participant must register.
凡
凡
This part occupies the 凡 position in the model pattern.
参加
qualifying class or clause，(都/皆)
This part occupies the qualifying class or clause，(都/皆) position in the model pattern.
者
shared predicate
This part occupies the shared predicate position in the model pattern.
都要
凡
This part occupies the 凡 position in the model pattern.
登记
qualifying class or clause，(都/皆)
This part occupies the qualifying class or clause，(都/皆) position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
凡参加者都要登记。
Every participant must register.
凡有疑问，请及时提出。
Anyone with questions should raise them promptly.
凡本馆藏书，皆可在线检索。
All books held by this library can be searched online.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- State a rule applying to every member that meets a qualification.
- Put 凡 before the class-defining noun phrase or clause.
- Use 都 or 皆 when an explicit totalizing marker helps clarify the shared predicate.
Do not use it when
- Do not place 凡 after the predicate it quantifies.
- Do not assume 都 is mandatory in every formal sentence.
- Do not confuse universal 凡 with its counting sense meaning a total of.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
参加者凡都要登记。
凡参加者都要登记。
凡 is placed after the class it introduces
Universal 凡 must introduce the qualifying class before the predicate shared by all its members.
凡凡是符合条件的人都能申请。
凡是符合条件的人都能申请。
凡 and 凡是 are redundantly stacked
Choose 凡 or 凡是 once. Repeating both forms adds no grammatical scope.
参加者凡都要登记。
Place 凡 before the class it quantifies.
凡凡是符合条件的人都能申请。
Use either 凡 or 凡是 once.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 凡.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 凡. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
凡 for Every Member of a Defined Class Questions
Does 凡 always require 都?
No. 都 or formal 皆 is common when a shared predicate follows, but concise instructions such as 凡有疑问，请提出 can omit it.
How is 凡 different from 凡是?
Both can introduce every qualifying case. 凡 is more compact and formal; 凡是 overtly contains 是 and is often easier to parse in general statements.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, official combined Levels 7-9 item 【七—九012】, 范围副词：凡, PDF p. 244; assigned HSK 8 learning page
Places 凡 in the official combined Levels 7-9 scope-adverb inventory; HSK 8 is this site's internal learning assignment.
Official sourceRevised Mandarin Chinese Dictionary
Ministry of Education, Taiwan · Ministry of Education, Taiwan · 2021
Locator: 凡 entry, adverb sense 概括之词 and cited examples; full dictionary body opened
Defines 凡 as a generalizing expression and attests the universal pattern with a qualifying class, while separately listing its total-count sense.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
凡是…都…凡是...都... (fánshì...dōu)
Compact formal 凡 and the fuller 凡是 both introduce qualifying cases, but their overt structure and register differ.
Compare
每每: Every and Each
凡 scopes over a qualifying class or clause, while 每 directly selects individual members or recurring units.
Compare
任何任何: Any Without Restriction
凡 generalizes over members satisfying a condition, whereas 任何 removes restrictions among possible members.
Continue learning
皆皆: Formal All
Formal 皆 can mark the shared predicate applying to the whole class introduced by 凡.
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Easy to confuse
Compact formal 凡 and the fuller 凡是 both introduce qualifying cases, but their overt structure and register differ.