How to use 都……了 means already with a complaining tone in Chinese

New words

妹妹 mèimei n. younger sister

你有妹妹吗？

你有几个妹妹？

Language points

The structure “都……了” means already, it emphasises the phrase after 都 and sometimes the sentence has a complaining tone. For example:

都8点了，快点儿起床吧。

It’s already 8 o’clock, get up quickly. (it implies that you should have got up earlier)

你都十岁了，可以自己洗衣服了。

You have already been 10 years old, you should wash your own clothes. (it implies that you are old enough to wash your clothes by yourself)

我们都等她半个小时了。

We’ve already waited for half an hour. (it implies that she should have come earlier. This sentence has a complaining tone)

Dialogue 3

A：你妹妹怎么还没来？都八点四十了！Nǐ mèimei zěnme hái méilái ？ Dōu bādiǎn sìshí le ！

B：我们再等她几分钟吧 。Wǒmen zài děnɡ tā jǐ fēnzhōnɡ bɑ 。

A：都等她半个小时了 ！Dōu děnɡ tā bàn ɡè xiǎoshí le ！

B：她来了 ， 我听见她说话了 。Tā lái le， wǒ tīnɡjiàn tā shuōhuà le 。

Let’s read it again without Pinyin.

A: 你妹妹怎么还没来？都八点四十了。

B: 我们再等她几分钟吧。

A: 都等她半个小时了！

B: 她来了，我听见她说话了。

Supposing you were B, what could you say if call your sister who is late.

Here is an example

都八点四十了！你怎么还没来？我们都等你半个小时了！你什么时候能到啊？

Homework

Today we have learned the structure “都……了”, which means already, sometimes the sentence has a complaining tone.

我们都等她半个小时了。

After class, please use “都……了” to complain about someone, write at least 3 sentences.