<p>The meaning of the original expression is "I have nothing." But Chinese gets there in a "strange," way.</p>

<p>A more literal translation of the expression is "Everything not have." The "everything" is rendered by "什麼都," which literally translates to "whatever all."</p>

<p>什麼也 gets to the same place in a slightly different way. I would translate it as "whatever included." And a literal translation would be "whatever included, not have," instead of "whatever all" not have.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-15T23:57:27.780Z
2011-12-15T23:57:27.780Z
Tom Au
<p>什麼都 can be used in both positive and negative statements while 什麼也 is usually used in negative statements. So, instead of focusing on the usage of 也 here, 什麼都 and 什麼也 can be regarded as phrases which are sometimes used interchangeably.</p>

<p>For example:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>我們以為什麼都知道，而實際上什麼也不知道。/ 我们以为什么都知道，而实际上什么也不知道。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>One possible translation:  </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>We thought we knew/know everything but, in fact, we knew/know nothing at all.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>So, it's ok to say (although the above example would read better):</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>我們以為什麼都知道，而實際上*<em>什麼都</em>*不知道。/ 我们以为什么都知道，而实际上*<em>什么都</em>*不知道。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>but odd to say:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>我們以為*<em>什麼也</em>*知道，而實際上什麼也不知道。/ 我们以为*<em>什么也</em>*知道，而实际上什么也不知道。</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-15T04:58:34.200Z
good answer.but i never thought about it althrough i say it everyday.
macskuz
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-15T00:24:50.587Z
2011-12-28T12:02:24.670Z
2011-12-28T12:02:24.670Z
Georgeee
<p>I know 也 only as "also", but I see it now and then used in ways difficult to understand, especially in some negative statements. Why is this so? Does 也 also have some meaning not mentioned in dictionaries which is used in these cases?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-14T21:30:58.540Z
In this case, 也 equals to either/neither in English. That is, 也 can be used as also, too, either, neither. Sounds confusing. :P
Flake
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-14T21:34:54.570Z
@Flake: It is! I wonder why is this not in any dictionary I have!
dr Hannibal Lecter
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-14T21:43:05.420Z
Actually, as I can recall, there is no difference between "too" and "either" or "neither" in Chinese at all. E.g. 我也有iPhone <-> 我也没有iPhone. This may be the reason it is not even mentioned -- because there is no difference in Chinese as it is in English between positive and negative forms.
Flake
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-14T21:57:08.563Z
@Flake This should be a good answer. :)
StarCub
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-15T15:14:40.533Z
@Flake: Are you saying that "我也有iPhone" and "我也没有iPhone" mean the same thing?
dr Hannibal Lecter
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-16T00:00:51.393Z
@drHannibalLecter No. These two phrases are examples to demonstrate that `也` equals to both `also/too` and `either` in English. ;) Hope this helps.
Flake
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-16T20:10:23.467Z
@Flake: I think I got it: "I don't have iPhone either". When you use your second language to learn your third language sometimes you have a brain fart :)
dr Hannibal Lecter
<grammar><sentence-structure>
Why is it possible to replace 都 with 也 in 什么都没有?
# Why is it possible to replace 都 with 也 in 什么都没有?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-12-14)

I know 也 only as "also", but I see it now and then used in ways difficult to understand, especially in some negative statements. Why is this so? Does 也 also have some meaning not mentioned in dictionaries which is used in these cases?

**Tags:** grammar, sentence-structure
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: In this case, 也 equals to either/neither in English. That is, 也 can be used as also, too, either, neither. Sounds confusing. :P  
> **username_0**: @Flake: It is! I wonder why is this not in any dictionary I have!  
> **username_1**: Actually, as I can recall, there is no difference between "too" and "either" or "neither" in Chinese at all. E.g. 我也有iPhone <-> 我也没有iPhone. This may be the reason it is not even mentioned -- because there is no difference in Chinese as it is in English between positive and negative forms.  
> **username_2**: @Flake This should be a good answer. :)  
> **username_0**: @Flake: Are you saying that "我也有iPhone" and "我也没有iPhone" mean the same thing?  
> **username_1**: @drHannibalLecter No. These two phrases are examples to demonstrate that `也` equals to both `also/too` and `either` in English. ;) Hope this helps.  
> **username_0**: @Flake: I think I got it: "I don't have iPhone either". When you use your second language to learn your third language sometimes you have a brain fart :)  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2011-12-15. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

什麼都 can be used in both positive and negative statements while 什麼也 is usually used in negative statements. So, instead of focusing on the usage of 也 here, 什麼都 and 什麼也 can be regarded as phrases which are sometimes used interchangeably.

For example:

> 我們以為什麼都知道，而實際上什麼也不知道。/ 我们以为什么都知道，而实际上什么也不知道。

One possible translation:

> We thought we knew/know everything but, in fact, we knew/know nothing at all.

So, it's ok to say (although the above example would read better):

> 我們以為什麼都知道，而實際上\**什麼都*\*不知道。/ 我们以为什么都知道，而实际上\**什么都*\*不知道。

but odd to say:

> 我們以為\**什麼也*\*知道，而實際上什麼也不知道。/ 我们以为\**什么也*\*知道，而实际上什么也不知道。

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: good answer.but i never thought about it althrough i say it everyday.  

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### Answer by username_3 on 2011-12-15. Score: 2

The meaning of the original expression is "I have nothing." But Chinese gets there in a "strange," way.

A more literal translation of the expression is "Everything not have." The "everything" is rendered by "什麼都," which literally translates to "whatever all."

什麼也 gets to the same place in a slightly different way. I would translate it as "whatever included." And a literal translation would be "whatever included, not have," instead of "whatever all" not have.


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