Pattern
Question word + inclusive or negative adverb
Core idea
Mandarin question words can be used outside direct questions. With words such as 都 or in negative patterns, they can mean “everyone,” “everything,” “anywhere,” or “nothing.”
The question word no longer asks for missing information. It points to the whole possible set.
Compare with real questions
Word order alone does not decide whether a question word is asking a question. Look at the whole sentence. If an inclusive adverb or negative pattern is present, the question word may have an inclusive meaning instead.
Examples
谁都可以来。
Shéi dōu kěyǐ lái.
Anyone can come.
我什么都想吃。
Wǒ shénme dōu xiǎng chī.
I want to eat everything.
他哪里都不想去。
Tā nǎlǐ dōu bù xiǎng qù.
He does not want to go anywhere.
Common mistakes
Avoid
谁可以来都。
Use
谁都可以来。
In this inclusive pattern, 都 follows the question word phrase.