Basic/Simple Sentence PatternsHSK 4
Expressing "even" with 连 and 都
Use 连...都... to emphasize that something extreme or unexpected includes or applies, meaning 'even'. You can place 连 before the subject or the object, and 都 always comes before the verb; add 不 or 没 before the verb for negative statements.
Structure
连 + Subj. + 都 (+ 不/没) + Verb
The focal 'even' element is the subject; 都 can be replaced by 也, but 都 is more common.
Subj. + 连 + Obj. + 都 (+ 不/没) + Verb
The focal 'even' element is the object; the subject comes first.
Examples
- 这个问题太简单了，连三岁小孩都知道。Zhège wèntí tài jiǎndān le, lián sān suì xiǎohái dōu zhīdào.This question is so easy that even a three-year-old kid knows the answer.
- 这个汉字太难了，连我的中文老师都不认识。Zhège Hànzì tài nán le, lián wǒ de Zhōngwén lǎoshī dōu bù rènshi.This Chinese character is so difficult that even my Chinese teacher doesn't know it.
- 他很可怜，连他妈妈都不管他。Tā hěn kělián, lián tā māma dōu bù guǎn tā.The poor child. Even his mother doesn't care about him.
- 她什么都放辣，连汤都是辣的。Tā shénme dōu fàng là, lián tāng dōu shì là de.She put spice in everything. Even the soup is spicy.
- 你们算什么好朋友？他连结婚都没请你。Nǐmen suàn shénme hǎo péngyou, tā lián jiéhūn dōu méi qǐng nǐ.What kind of "good friend" are you to him? He didn't even invite you to his wedding.