皆: Formal All in Chinese
皆
皆 is a concise formal adverb meaning ‘all’ or ‘every one.’ The plural, coordinated, or generic group it quantifies comes before 皆, and the shared predicate follows. Like 都, it scopes over the preceding group, but its register is more written. It cannot follow the predicate or coordinate nouns by itself.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Plural or generic Subject + 皆 + Predicate
Read the structure
皆 is a concise formal adverb meaning ‘all’ or ‘every one.’ The plural, coordinated, or generic group it quantifies comes before 皆, and the shared predicate follows. Like 都, it scopes over the preceding group, but its register is more written. It cannot follow the predicate or coordinate nouns by itself. Keep the model Plural or generic Subject + 皆 + Predicate visible while you compare each sentence.
这已是人人皆知的事实。
This is already a fact known to everyone.
Choose the right context
Quantify every member of a stated group in formal writing. Use after coordinated subjects that share one predicate. Form compact expressions such as 人人皆知.
符合条件者皆可报名。
Everyone who meets the conditions may register.
Respect the boundary
Do not place 皆 after the predicate. Do not use it to join two nouns. Do not use 皆 when no plural or generic set is available.
符合条件者可报名皆。
(Eligible people may register all.)
Repair the pattern
皆 follows the shared predicate: 皆 scopes from the preceding group over the following predicate, so it must precede 可报名. 皆 is used as a noun conjunction: 和 coordinates 老师 and 学生; 皆 then quantifies the coordinated group before its predicate.
符合条件者皆可报名。
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.
这已是人人皆知的事实。
This is already a fact known to everyone.
这
Plural or generic Subject
This part occupies the Plural or generic Subject position in the model pattern.
已是
皆
This part occupies the 皆 position in the model pattern.
人人
Predicate
This part occupies the Predicate position in the model pattern.
皆知
Plural or generic Subject
This part occupies the Plural or generic Subject position in the model pattern.
的
皆
This part occupies the 皆 position in the model pattern.
事实
Predicate
This part occupies the Predicate 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.
这已是人人皆知的事实。
This is already a fact known to everyone.
符合条件者皆可报名。
Everyone who meets the conditions may register.
两种方案皆有风险。
Both plans carry risks.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Quantify every member of a stated group in formal writing.
- Use after coordinated subjects that share one predicate.
- Form compact expressions such as 人人皆知.
Do not use it when
- Do not place 皆 after the predicate.
- Do not use it to join two nouns.
- Do not use 皆 when no plural or generic set is available.
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.
符合条件者可报名皆。
符合条件者皆可报名。
皆 follows the shared predicate
皆 scopes from the preceding group over the following predicate, so it must precede 可报名.
老师皆学生参加了。
老师和学生皆参加了。
皆 is used as a noun conjunction
和 coordinates 老师 and 学生; 皆 then quantifies the coordinated group before its predicate.
符合条件者可报名皆。
皆 scopes from the preceding group over the following predicate, so it must precede 可报名.
老师皆学生参加了。
和 coordinates 老师 and 学生; 皆 then quantifies the coordinated group before its predicate.
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 皆.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 皆. 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
皆: Formal All Questions
How is 皆 different from 都?
Their quantifying meaning overlaps, but 皆 is more concise and formal or literary.
What must come before 皆?
A plural, coordinated, or generic group must be available for 皆 to quantify.
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: GF0025-2021 Appendix A, combined Levels 7–9 item 【七—九013】, 范围副词：皆 (printed p. 238)
Supports placement in the official combined Levels 7-9 band; the exact site level remains an internal difficulty label; it does not independently establish the usage explanation.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Chapter 46, §§46.1–46.3, expressing all and every; Chapter 15, logical adverb scope
Establishes the subject + totality adverb + shared predicate scope pattern used by formal 皆.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
各各: Each in a Defined Group
Compare this lesson with 各 distributing a predicate across members of a set; both belong to distribution and universal reference, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Compare
每每: Every and Each
Compare this lesson with 每 selecting every member or recurring unit; both belong to distribution and universal reference, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Compare
任何任何: Any Without Restriction
Compare this lesson with 任何 referring to any member without restriction; both belong to distribution and universal reference, but they organize a different sentence role or discourse job.
Continue learning
都都 (dōu): Scope and Position
Continue with the reviewed follow-up lesson to apply this pattern inside a broader, explicitly connected grammar construction.
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Continue with the reviewed follow-up lesson to apply this pattern inside a broader, explicitly connected grammar construction.