suǒyǒu: 所有 - All, Every, To Possess

• Keywords: suoyou, 所有, all in Chinese, every in Chinese, Chinese grammar, to possess in Chinese, difference between suoyou and dou, HSK 3 vocabulary, Chinese word for all, what does suoyou mean
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese word 所有 (suǒyǒu), a versatile term meaning “all,” “every,” or “to possess.” This guide explores how to use 所有 to talk about complete sets (e.g., “all the books”), its crucial relationship with the adverb 都 (dōu), and its more formal usage as a verb for ownership. Master this fundamental HSK 3 word to make your Chinese more precise and natural.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): suǒyǒu
• Part of Speech: Determiner (like “all” or “every”), Pronoun, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 3
• Concise Definition: All; every; to have; to possess.
• In a Nutshell: 所有 is used to refer to the entirety of a specific group of people or things. Think of it as meaning “all of the…” It singles out a complete, defined set. While its most common use is similar to the English “all,” it can also function as a more formal verb meaning “to possess” or “to own.”

• 所 (suǒ): This character often acts as a structural particle. A simple way to think of it is “that which is…” or “the place where.” It can turn a verb that follows it into a noun phrase.
• 有 (yǒu): The fundamental character for “to have,” “to exist,” or “there is.”
• Combined Meaning: Literally, the characters combine to mean “that which is had” or “that which exists.” This concept of “everything that is possessed/present” logically extends to mean “all” or the “entirety” of a given set.

While 所有 is primarily a functional grammar word, its usage reflects a certain precision in Chinese language. Unlike the English “all,” which can sometimes be ambiguous, 所有 typically refers to a specific and known quantity. When you say `所有的人 (suǒyǒu de rén)`, you are implying “all of the people (in this specific group we are aware of).” This contrasts with a more abstract concept like `一切 (yīqiè)`, which means “everything” in a more philosophical or all-encompassing sense (e.g., “Everything will be okay”). Furthermore, the verb usage of 所有, meaning “to possess,” is often found in legal, business, or formal documents. For instance, a contract might state a patent is `为本公司所有 (wéi běn gōngsī suǒyǒu)`, meaning “is owned by this company.” This is much more formal than simply saying `是公司的 (shì gōngsī de)`. This distinction highlights the Chinese language's ability to scale formality, a concept less pronounced in everyday English.

This is the most common usage. It is placed before a noun to indicate the entire group. It is almost always followed by 的 (de), though it can sometimes be omitted in casual speech or for rhythmic reasons. It frequently partners with the adverb 都 (dōu), which is placed before the verb.

• Structure: `所有 + (的) + Noun + 都 + Verb`

This usage is more formal and less common in daily conversation. It often appears in written Chinese, legal documents, or official statements.

• Structure: `Noun + 为 (wéi) + Owner + 所有 (suǒyǒu)` (to be owned by…)

• Example 1:
  • 所有的学生都通过了考试。
  • Pinyin: Suǒyǒu de xuéshēng dōu tōngguò le kǎoshì.
  • English: All of the students passed the exam.
  • Analysis: This is the classic structure. 所有 modifies “students” to define the group, and 都 is the adverb before the verb “passed” that applies the action to the entire group.
• Example 2:
  • 我看完了书架上所有的书。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ kànwán le shūjià shàng suǒyǒu de shū.
  • English: I have finished reading all the books on the bookshelf.
  • Analysis: Here, 所有 modifies the object of the sentence (“books”). It specifies a complete, defined set—not just any books, but all the ones on that specific shelf.
• Example 3:
  • 这就是我所有的钱。
  • Pinyin: Zhè jiùshì wǒ suǒyǒu de qián.
  • English: This is all the money I have.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 所有 acts like a pronoun meaning “the entirety.” It functions similarly to `全部 (quánbù)`.
• Example 4:
  • 他把所有的精力都投入到了这个项目中。
  • Pinyin: Tā bǎ suǒyǒu de jīnglì dōu tóurù dào le zhège xiàngmù zhōng.
  • English: He put all his energy into this project.
  • Analysis: This example shows 所有 used with an abstract noun, “energy” (精力). The `把 (bǎ)` structure is very common in these types of sentences.
• Example 5:
  • 所有问题都解决了吗？
  • Pinyin: Suǒyǒu wèntí dōu jiějué le ma?
  • English: Have all the problems been solved?
  • Analysis: A straightforward question. Using 所有 here implies a known set of problems that needed to be addressed.
• Example 6:
  • 我们公司的所有产品都有质量保证。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen gōngsī de suǒyǒu chǎnpǐn dōu yǒu zhìliàng bǎozhèng.
  • English: All of our company's products have a quality guarantee.
  • Analysis: A common phrase in a business context. It provides a sense of completeness and assurance.
• Example 7:
  • 这个专利为我们公司所有。
  • Pinyin: Zhège zhuānlì wéi wǒmen gōngsī suǒyǒu.
  • English: This patent is owned by our company.
  • Analysis: Here is the formal verb usage. `为…所有` is a fixed structure meaning “to be owned by…” You would see this in a legal document, not typically in casual conversation.
• Example 8:
  • 所有的希望都破灭了。
  • Pinyin: Suǒyǒu de xīwàng dōu pòmiè le.
  • English: All hope was lost (lit: All the hopes were shattered).
  • Analysis: A more literary or dramatic use of the word with the abstract noun “hope” (希望).
• Example 9:
  • 他回答了记者提出的所有问题。
  • Pinyin: Tā huídá le jìzhě tíchū de suǒyǒu wèntí.
  • English: He answered all the questions raised by the reporters.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates how 所有 can modify a noun phrase that is itself complex (“questions raised by the reporters”).
• Example 10:
  • 并非所有人都同意这个观点。
  • Pinyin: Bìngfēi suǒyǒu rén dōu tóngyì zhège guāndiǎn.
  • English: Not everyone agrees with this viewpoint.
  • Analysis: Using `并非 (bìngfēi)` or `不 (bù)` before 所有 creates a partial negation, meaning “not all…” This is a very useful structure.

This is the most common point of confusion for learners.

• 所有 (suǒyǒu) is a determiner. It goes before the noun to tell you “which ones” (all of them).
• 都 (dōu) is an adverb. It goes before the verb to apply the action to the entire subject.

They often appear together, but they have different jobs.

• Correct: `所有学生都来了。` (Suǒyǒu xuéshēng dōu lái le.) - All the students came.
• Incorrect: `学生所有都来了。` (The position of 所有 is wrong).
• Incorrect: `所有学生来了都。` (The position of 都 is wrong).

• 所有 refers to a specific, countable (or conceptually countable) group. It's concrete.
  • `我吃了所有的苹果。` (Wǒ chī le suǒyǒu de píngguǒ.) - I ate all of the apples (from this specific pile).
• 一切 (yīqiè) means “everything” in a general, abstract, or uncountable sense.
  • `金钱不是一切。` (Jīnqián bùshì yīqiè.) - Money isn't everything.
  • You would not say `金钱不是所有`.

These two are very close and often interchangeable when meaning “all.”

• 所有 emphasizes “all of the items” within a group.
• 全部 (quánbù) emphasizes “the entire portion” or “the whole lot.” It can also function as an adverb itself, sometimes replacing 都.
  • `所有的作业我都做完了。` (Suǒyǒu de zuòyè wǒ dōu zuò wán le.)
  • `全部的作业我都做完了。` (Quánbù de zuòyè wǒ dōu zuò wán le.)
  • Both are correct and mean “I finished all the homework.” The nuance is minimal in this context.

• 都 (dōu) - The essential adverb meaning “all” or “both,” which almost always accompanies a plural subject, often one defined by `所有`.
• 一切 (yīqiè) - A pronoun meaning “everything” in an abstract sense. Antonym in concept: `所有` is specific, `一切` is general.
• 全部 (quánbù) - A near-synonym meaning “the whole,” “entire,” “complete.” Often interchangeable with `所有`.
• 每 (měi) - A determiner meaning “each” or “every.” It focuses on the individuals within the group, whereas `所有` focuses on the group as a whole.
• 大家 (dàjiā) - A pronoun meaning “everyone” or “everybody.” Used to refer to a group of people collectively.
• 拥有 (yōngyǒu) - A common verb meaning “to possess” or “to own,” often used for significant possessions or abstract qualities (e.g., to possess talent). It is the more colloquial verb form compared to the formal use of `所有`.
• 整个 (zhěnggè) - A determiner meaning “the whole” or “the entire.” Used to describe a single, complete entity, like `整个国家` (the whole country) or `整个下午` (the whole afternoon).
• 凡是 (fánshì) - A more formal or literary term meaning “any” or “all who.” It introduces a category, e.g., `凡是学生，都必须…` (All who are students must…).