How to Say “Now That You’ve Already…” with V 都 V 了
V 都 V 了 (V dōu V le) repeats a verb around 都 to mean “now that you’ve already [verb]-ed…”: 来都来了 (“now that you’re here”), 买都买了 (“you’ve already bought it”), 说都说了 (“it’s already been said”). It frames the action as a done deal and usually leads into a 就…吧 clause of resignation or advice. Close to 既然…就 (“since…, then…”). The 都 isn’t “all,” and the 了 is required.
Why this trips learners up
V 都 V 了 is a spoken frame for shrugging and making the best of things. You repeat the same verb around 都, add 了, and the meaning is “now that you’ve already [verb]-ed, there’s no undoing it, so…”: 来都来了 (“now that you’re already here”), 买都买了 (“you’ve already gone and bought it”), 说都说了 (“it’s already been said”). The tone is resignation or gentle persuasion, and it usually leads into a 就…吧 or 别…了 clause: 来都来了，就进去看看吧.
The whole trick is the repeated verb. 来都来了 literally stacks 来 (“come”) on both sides of 都: “as for coming, you’ve already come.” That doubling is what signals “it’s a done deal.” Meaning-wise it’s very close to 既然…就 (“since you’ve come, then…”), just punchier and more colloquial. And note this 都 is not “all,” it’s an emphatic pivot, and the 了 is obligatory because the whole point is that the action is finished.
Watch the difference from the plain 都…了 “already” pattern. 来都来了 (verb repeated) means “now that you’ve already come.” But 都八点了 (都 + a time, no repeated verb) just means “it’s already eight o’clock.” Same 都…了 on the surface, but only the version with the doubled verb carries the “now that you’ve gone and done it” flavour. The repeated verb is your tell.
An object or a duration can slot in after the second verb: 等都等了一个小时了 (“we’ve already waited a whole hour”), 点都点了这么多菜 (“you’ve already ordered this much food”). Two-syllable verbs work the same way: 答应都答应了 (“you’ve already agreed”), 决定都决定了 (“the decision’s already made”). Whatever the verb, the shape holds: V + 都 + V + 了.
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
Examples in context
Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.
Tap a word to see its grammatical role.
lái 来 Verb dōu 都 Pattern lái 来 Verb le 了 Function word jiù jìnqù kànkan ba ，就进去看看吧 Verb
Now that you’re here, go on in and take a look (the archetype, 来都来了).
mǎi 买 Verb dōu 都 Pattern mǎi 买 Verb le 了 Function word hái tuì shénme? ，还退什么？ Verb
You’ve already bought it, why return it now? (买都买了).
zuò 做 Verb dōu 都 Pattern zuò 做 Verb le 了 Function word hòuhuǐ yě méi yòng ，后悔也没用 Other
You’ve already done it, no use regretting now (做都做了).
shuō 说 Verb dōu 都 Pattern shuō 说 Verb le 了 Function word shōu bù huílái le ，收不回来了 Verb
It’s already been said, you can’t take it back now (说都说了).
děng 等 Verb dōu 都 Pattern děng 等 Verb le 了 Function word yí gè xiǎoshí 一个小时 Time le 了 Function word zài děng shí fēnzhōng ba ，再等十分钟吧 Verb
We’ve already waited an hour, let’s wait ten more minutes (a duration slots in after 了).
dāying 答应 Verb dōu 都 Pattern dāying 答应 Verb le 了 Function word jiù bié fǎnhuǐ le ，就别反悔了 Verb
You’ve already agreed, so don’t go back on it (a two-syllable verb, 答应都答应了).
diǎn 点 Verb dōu 都 Pattern diǎn 点 Verb le 了 Function word zhème duō cài 这么多菜 Object chī bù wán jiù dǎbāo ba ，吃不完就打包吧 Verb
You’ve already ordered this much food, if you can’t finish it just pack it up (an object after 了).
juédìng 决定 Verb dōu 都 Pattern juédìng 决定 Verb le 了 Function word xiànzài hòuhuǐ yě láibují le ，现在后悔也来不及了 Other jiù hǎohāo gàn ba 就好好干吧 Verb
The decision’s already made, it’s too late to regret it now, so just get on with it (决定都决定了).
Common mistakes
Why it happens: Without the first verb, 都来了 means “everyone came” (都 = “all”), not “now that you’ve come.” The “now that you’ve already” frame needs the verb on both sides of 都: 来都来了.
Why it happens: The 了 is obligatory, it’s what marks the action as already done. It’s 来都来了, not 来都来. Drop the 了 and the “already a done deal” meaning disappears.
Why it happens: Both sides of 都 must be the SAME verb. It’s 来都来了 or 到都到了, never 来都到了. The frame reduplicates one verb, it doesn’t chain two different ones.
Compare & contrast
| V 都 V 了 (verb repeated = “now that you’ve already”) | 都 … 了 (no repeated verb = “already”) | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| 来都来了lái dōu lái le = “now that you’re already here” (verb repeated) | 都几点了dōu jǐ diǎn le = “look how late it is already” (都 + time) | 来都来了 repeats 来 around 都, “now that you’re already here.” 都几点了 is 都 + a time, “look how late it is already.” Only the doubled verb gives the “now that you’ve done it” sense. |
| 说都说了shuō dōu shuō le = “now that it’s already been said” | 都三年了dōu sān nián le = “it’s already been three years” (都 + duration) | 说都说了 = “now that it’s already been said.” 都三年了 = “it’s already been three years.” Same 都…了 frame, but the repeated verb is what changes the meaning. |
Try it yourself
Say “Now that you’re here, just go on in.” Repeat the verb around 都: 来都来了，就进去吧。
Related patterns
Quick reference card
How to Say “Now That You’ve Already…” with V 都 V 了 grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.