What does 都在 (dōu zài) mean?

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都dōu在zài means:

  • all/both are in the process of
  • all/both are in
  • all/both are located

都dōu在zài is made up of the characters “both” 都dōu and “located” / “in” / “in the process of” 在zài.

都在 example sentences:

昨zuó天tiān一yī整zhěng天tiān都dōu在zài下xià雨yǔ
zuó​tiān yī zhěng​tiān dōu zài xià​yǔ
Yesterday it rained all day

– yesterday 昨zuó天tiān
– all day 一yī整zhěng天tiān
– all in the process of 都dōu在zài
– raining 下xià雨yǔ

我wǒ们men都dōu在zài房fáng间jiān里lǐ
wǒ​men dōu zài fáng​jiān lǐ
We are in the room

Breakdown:

  • we 我wǒ们men
  • both in 都dōu在zài
  • room 我wǒ们men都dōu在zài房fáng间jiān里lǐ
  • inside 我wǒ们men都dōu在zài房fáng间jiān里lǐ

我wǒ们men都dōu在zài等děng着zhe雨yǔ停tíng
wǒ​men dōu zài děng zhe yǔ tíng
We are both waiting for the rain to stop

Breakdown:

  • we 我wǒ们men
  • both are 都dōu在zài
  • waiting 等děng着zhe, where 着zhe is an “aspect particle” that denotes an action is in progress
  • rain 雨yǔ
  • stop 停tíng

他tā们men都dōu在zài楼lóu上shàng
tā​men dōu zài lóu​shàng
They are both upstairs

Breakdown:

  • they 他tā们men都dōu在zài楼lóu上shàng
  • are both located 都dōu在zài
  • upstairs 楼lóu上shàng
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