Chinese grammar - 'Someone', 'anyone', 'everyone', and 'nobody'

'Someone', 'anyone', 'everyone', and 'nobody'

Common Chinese indeterminate pronouns include:

• 谁 (shéi) (meaning 'who') can sometimes be used to mean 'someone', 'anyone who' or 'whoever' depending on context.

• 谁都 (shéi dōu) can be used to mean 'everyone' or 'anyone' in positive or inclusive contexts.

— In this context 都 (dōu) means 'all', 'both' or 'together'.

• 谁也 (shéi yě) is often used to mean 'nobody' or 'no one' in negative contexts.

— 也 (yě) means 'also' but when used with 谁 in a negative aspect means 'nobody'.

Note that are several other common ways to say 'someone', nobody' etc. These will be covered in later topics.

Examples:
	谁都可以来。 shéi dōu kěyǐ lái. Anyone can come.
	谁都知道这个故事。 shéi dōu zhīdào zhè ge gùshì. Everyone knows this story. 故事 (gùshì) means 'story'
	有谁在门口。 yǒu shéi zài ménkǒu. Who is at the door?
	谁也不知道答案。 shéi yě bù zhīdào dá'àn. Nobody knows the answer.
	谁也不知道。 shéi yě bù zhīdào. Nobody knows.
	谁都不来我的派对。 shéi dōu bù lái wǒ de pàiduì. No one comes to my party. 派对 (pàiduì) means 'party'
	谁先到谁先吃。 shéi xiān dào shéi xiān chī. Whoever arrives first eats first. 先 (xiān) means 'first'
	谁知道答案请告诉我。 shéi zhīdào dá'àn qǐng gàosù wǒ. Anybody who knows the answer, please tell me.
	谁都会喜欢这场演出。 shéi dōu huì xǐhuān zhè chǎng yǎnchū. Everyone will enjoy this performance. 场 (chǎng) is a measure word for certain events, activities, performances, and natural occurrences 演出 (yǎnchū) means 'performance'
	谁迟到了都不能参加会议。 shéi chídào le dōu bù néng cānjiā huìyì. Anyone who is late cannot attend the meeting.
	谁也没看见事故。 shéi yě méi kànjiàn shìgù. Nobody saw the accident.