Difference between revisions of "Expressing "even" with "shenzhi""

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甚至 (shènzhì) is similar that of "even" in English.  
 
甚至 (shènzhì) is similar that of "even" in English.  
 
  
 
When used as a conjunction, it is generally used to emphasize the last idea of the sentence. Sometimes this kind of sentence has the feeling that the speaker realizes half way through the sentence that they haven't gone far enough, and want to take the idea one step further.  
 
When used as a conjunction, it is generally used to emphasize the last idea of the sentence. Sometimes this kind of sentence has the feeling that the speaker realizes half way through the sentence that they haven't gone far enough, and want to take the idea one step further.  
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* 看 到 前 女友 的 照片 让 他 感到 遗憾 <em>甚至</em> 痛苦。
 
* 看 到 前 女友 的 照片 让 他 感到 遗憾 <em>甚至</em> 痛苦。
 
* 在 中国,不但 教育 水平 高 的 人 会 背诵 唐诗, <em>甚至</em> 连 小 孩子 都 会。
 
* 在 中国,不但 教育 水平 高 的 人 会 背诵 唐诗, <em>甚至</em> 连 小 孩子 都 会。
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
  
 
甚至 can also be used as an adverb, and is often used like this:
 
甚至 can also be used as an adverb, and is often used like this:
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
 
adj + 得 + 甚至 +  verb + object
 
</div>
 
 
 
Some examples:
 
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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</div>
 
</div>
  
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The phrase  following 甚至 often uses 连, 都 or 也 to add further emphasis.
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== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
  
不但 (bùdàn) and 甚至 can be used to form a structure similar to 不但...而且 (bùdàn...érqiě), meaning "not only...even". 甚至 is often followed by the 连...都 (lián...dōu) structure to add further emphasis.
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* New Practical Chinese Reader 5 (新实用汉语课本5) pp.72
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*Short-term Spoken Chinese: Pre-Intermediate (汉语口语速成提高篇) pp 133

Revision as of 03:20, 8 November 2011

甚至 (shènzhì) is similar that of "even" in English.

When used as a conjunction, it is generally used to emphasize the last idea of the sentence. Sometimes this kind of sentence has the feeling that the speaker realizes half way through the sentence that they haven't gone far enough, and want to take the idea one step further.


For example:

  • 看 到 前 女友 的 照片 让 他 感到 遗憾 甚至 痛苦。
  • 在 中国,不但 教育 水平 高 的 人 会 背诵 唐诗, 甚至 连 小 孩子 都 会。

甚至 can also be used as an adverb, and is often used like this:

  • 中 国 的 网速 慢 得 让 我 甚至 想 打 人!
  • 天气 热 得 我甚至 都 没有 胃口 吃饭。
  • 他 骑 自行车 的 速度 甚至 比 汽车 的 还 快。
  • 他 是 个 探险家,他 甚至 去 过 北极

The phrase following 甚至 often uses 连, 都 or 也 to add further emphasis.


Sources and further reading

Books

  • New Practical Chinese Reader 5 (新实用汉语课本5) pp.72
  • Short-term Spoken Chinese: Pre-Intermediate (汉语口语速成提高篇) pp 133