凡是

fánshì

adverb HSK 6 #11,759

Meanings

凡是 introduces a universal condition - 'in every case where...' It always appears at the beginning of its clause.

HSK 2

凡是他说的话，我都相信。

Fánshì tā shuō de huà, wǒ dōu xiāngxìn.

I believe everything he says.

HSK 3

凡是有困难的同学，都可以来找我。

Fánshì yǒu kùnnán de tóngxué, dōu kěyǐ lái zhǎo wǒ.

Any students who have difficulties can come to me.

HSK 5

凡是迟到的人都要罚款。

Fánshì chídào de rén dōu yào fákuǎn.

Anyone who is late will be fined.

grammar

凡是 is almost always paired with 都 or 就 in the main clause: 凡是...都... (every...all...). This is a fixed pattern.

usage

More formal than 所有的 (suǒyǒu de). Often seen in rules, policies, and formal statements.

凡 fán

是 shì