凡是...都... (fánshì...dōu) in Chinese
凡是…都…
凡是...都... makes a general statement about every person, thing, or situation that meets a stated condition. 凡是 introduces the class or condition, and 都 marks the result as applying across that whole class. The construction is common in rules and formal generalizations, so exceptions should not be hidden when the claim is not truly universal.
Published July 17, 2026
Reviewed July 17, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
凡是 + Class/Condition, 都 + Result
Read the structure
凡是...都... makes a general statement about every person, thing, or situation that meets a stated condition. 凡是 introduces the class or condition, and 都 marks the result as applying across that whole class. The construction is common in rules and formal generalizations, so exceptions should not be hidden when the claim is not truly universal. Keep the model 凡是 + Class/Condition, 都 + Result visible while you compare each sentence.
凡是报名的人都要带身份证。
Everyone who registers must bring identification.
Choose the right context
For a rule applying to a class: 凡是报名的人都要带身份证。 For a broad generalization supported by context: 凡是他答应的事，他都会做到。 To define eligible items or situations: 凡是符合条件的申请都可以提交。
凡是他答应的事，他都会做到。
Whatever he promises, he follows through on.
Respect the boundary
When only some members of the class are meant; use 有些, 大多数, or a narrower description. Do not stack 凡是 and 都 before the condition. Do not put 都 before the result-clause subject when that subject is overt.
凡是都报名的人要带身份证。
(Everyone who registers must bring identification.)
Repair the pattern
凡是 and 都 are stacked before the condition: 凡是 introduces the class 报名的人, while 都 belongs before the result predicate 要带身份证. 都 is placed before the result-clause subject: In the result clause, put the subject 他 before the scope adverb 都: 他 + 都 + 会做到.
凡是报名的人都要带身份证。
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.
凡是报名的人都要带身份证。
Everyone who registers must bring identification.
凡是
凡是
This part occupies the 凡是 position in the model pattern.
报名
Class/Condition, 都
This part occupies the Class/Condition, 都 position in the model pattern.
的
Result
This part occupies the Result position in the model pattern.
人
凡是
This part occupies the 凡是 position in the model pattern.
都要
Class/Condition, 都
This part occupies the Class/Condition, 都 position in the model pattern.
带
Result
This part occupies the Result position in the model pattern.
身份
凡是
This part occupies the 凡是 position in the model pattern.
证
Class/Condition, 都
This part occupies the Class/Condition, 都 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.
凡是报名的人都要带身份证。
Everyone who registers must bring identification.
凡是他答应的事，他都会做到。
Whatever he promises, he follows through on.
凡是符合条件的申请都可以提交。
Every application that meets the requirements may be submitted.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- For a rule applying to a class: 凡是报名的人都要带身份证。
- For a broad generalization supported by context: 凡是他答应的事，他都会做到。
- To define eligible items or situations: 凡是符合条件的申请都可以提交。
Do not use it when
- When only some members of the class are meant; use 有些, 大多数, or a narrower description.
- Do not stack 凡是 and 都 before the condition.
- Do not put 都 before the result-clause subject when that subject is overt.
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.
凡是都报名的人要带身份证。
凡是报名的人都要带身份证。
凡是 and 都 are stacked before the condition
凡是 introduces the class 报名的人, while 都 belongs before the result predicate 要带身份证.
凡是他答应的事，都他会做到。
凡是他答应的事，他都会做到。
都 is placed before the result-clause subject
In the result clause, put the subject 他 before the scope adverb 都: 他 + 都 + 会做到.
凡是都报名的人要带身份证。
Move 都 to the result: 凡是报名的人都要带身份证。
凡是他答应的事，都他会做到。
Put the result-clause subject before 都: 他都会做到。
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 凡是…都….
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 凡是…都…. 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
凡是...都... (fánshì...dōu) Questions
What is the difference between 凡是...都... and 只要...就...?
凡是...都... generalizes across every member of a class. 只要...就... presents a sufficient condition for a result in the stated context; their meanings can overlap but their focus differs.
Does 凡是 require 都?
都 is the standard partner that makes the universal scope explicit. Other universal wording can sometimes carry the result, but omitting every scope cue may make the sentence incomplete or change its emphasis.
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.
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Construction index and function chapters relevant to 凡是…都…
Supports the learner-facing account of where 凡是…都… appears and what communicative job it performs.
Official sourceChinese: A Comprehensive Grammar, 2nd ed.
Yip and Rimmington · Routledge · 2016
Locator: Relevant sentence and clause chapters for 凡是…都…
Cross-checks the 凡是 + Class/Condition, 都 + Result pattern, clause relationship, and limits represented by the reviewed examples.
Official sourceChinese 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, Level 6 grammar inventory
Supports directory placement at HSK 6; it does not independently prove usage rules.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
无论…都无论...都 (No Matter...)
Distinguish every qualifying case from an unchanged result across every possible alternative.
Compare
不管……，都/也……不管…都/也… for Invariant Results
凡是 ranges over qualifying cases, whereas 不管 ranges over alternative conditions with one stable result.
Compare
只要…就…只要...就...: As Long As
Compare every qualifying case with one sufficient condition that guarantees the stated result.
Easy to confuse
凡凡 for Every Member of a Defined Class
Compact 凡 introduces the same universal domain more formally and may combine with 都 or 皆.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Easy to confuse
Distinguish every qualifying case from an unchanged result across every possible alternative.