都 (dōu) - Meaning, Stroke Order, Words & Examples

Q: What does 都 (dōu) mean in Chinese?

The Chinese character 都 (dōu) means "All / Both / Capital". It is an HSK Level 1 character, with 10 strokes and the radical 阝.

Q: How do you write 都 stroke by stroke?

都 has 10 strokes. The radical is 阝. Follow the standard stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. Practice with stroke animation to build muscle memory.

Q: What's the difference between 都 and 邾?

都 (dōu) and 邾 look similar but differ in meaning and usage. Check the radical and stroke count to tell them apart.

Q: What mistakes do learners make writing 都?

Common mistake: incorrect stroke order or miswriting the radical 阝. Pay attention to the proportion between components — keep the radical compact.

Q: What common words use 都?

Common words containing 都 include: 都是 (dōu shì) — Are all / Are both; 全都 (quán dōu) — all; without exception; 首都 (shǒu dū) — capital city.

How to Write 都

The character 都 (dōu) is written with 10 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 阝 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

Meaning & Pronunciation

都 is pronounced dōu in Mandarin Chinese. It means All / Both / Capital.

This is a polyphonic character with readings: dōu, dū.

As an HSK Level 1 character, 都 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Common Words with 都

都是 dōu shì

Are all / Are both

全都 quán dōu

all; without exception

首都 shǒu dū

capital city

都市 dū shì

city / metropolis

Example Sentences

我们都是热爱和平的人。

wǒ men dōu shì rè ài hé píng de rén

We are all peace-loving people.

房间里的东西全都被收拾好了。

fáng jiān lǐ de dōng xī quán dōu bèi shōu shí hǎo le

Everything in the room has been tidied up.

北京是中国繁华的首都。

běi jīng shì zhōng guó fán huá de shǒu dū

Beijing is the bustling capital of China.

他很向往大都市的现代生活。

tā hěn xiàng wǎng dà dū shì de xiàn dài shēng huó

He yearns for the modern life of a big city.

Similar Characters

邾 zhū

郁 yù

郄 qiè

Practice Writing 都 (dōu)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 都 with real-time feedback.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 都

What does 都 (dōu) mean in Chinese?

How do you write 都 stroke by stroke?

What's the difference between 都 and 邾?

What mistakes do learners make writing 都?

What common words use 都?

How to Write 都 (dōu)