What Does 都行 (dōu xíng) Mean in Chinese?
Enhanced context lessonVery common
Either is fine / Anything works
Quick answer: What does 都行 mean?
都行 — A friendly, practical way to say you have no strong preference among the options.
✓Either is fine.
✓Anything works.
✓I’m good with either.
What Chinese people actually mean
Compared with a flat 随便, 都行 often sounds clearer and less dismissive when choosing between options.
Literal meaning
Literally, all work.
When not to use it
Do not use 都行 to avoid answering a single yes-or-no question when no alternatives were offered.
Common mistakes
- It accepts multiple options under discussion.
Compare & practice
Compare 行 / 可以 / 行吧 / 都行 / 还行 in everyday situations.
See the differences & try 5 questions →Chinese characters
Open each character to see its own meanings and vocabulary links.
Real conversations
1 · Choosing a time
A: 七点还是八点？
qī diǎn háishi bā diǎn?
A: Seven or eight?
B: 都行，你定吧。
dōu xíng, nǐ dìng ba.
B: Either works. You decide.
How to pronounce 都行
都行
Tap to hear Mandarin.
dōu1st tone →
xíng2nd tone ↗
When to use it
✓都行 accepts the options under discussion: food, times, places, or activities. It does not grant unlimited permission outside that choice.
✓Adding 你定吧 (nǐ dìng ba), “You decide,” explicitly gives the other person the choice.
✓If someone replies 都行 to 七点还是八点？, choose and confirm: 那就七点吧 (nà jiù qī diǎn ba), “Then let’s make it seven.”
✓For a single proposed plan, 行 or 可以 often makes the agreement clearer. 都行 refers to multiple possibilities, even when those possibilities are understood rather than stated.
✓Usually it sounds accommodating, but tone still matters. It is not a guarantee that a speaker is enthusiastic.
Sources and editorial note
Base entry: Real Chinese launch seed.Context lesson: Original Real Chinese launch content.