Difference between revisions of "Expressing "even" with "lian" and "dou""

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
"连... 都/也..." (lián... dōu/yě...) is a pattern that can be used to emphasize certain unexpected or surprising events or information. It is used the same way ''even'' is in English.
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连⋯⋯都⋯⋯ (lián... dōu...) is used similarly to how "even" is used in English and can emphasize certain surprising pieces of information. The tricky part about using it is that you have to remember to use ''both'' parts of the pattern (rather than just throwing in one word, like "even" in English).
  
==Basic Structure ==
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== Used Before the Subject ==
 +
 
 +
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 +
连 + Subj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb
 +
</div>
  
+ Noun + 也/都 + Adjective/Verb
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Sometimes 也 (yě) is used instead of 都 (dōu), and the two are interchangeable for this pattern, but 都 is more commonly used with 连 (lián), so it's the one we'll use exclusively here.
 +
 
 +
=== Examples ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
*这个 问题 太 简单 了 ,<em>连</em> 三岁 小孩 <em>都</em> 知道 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège wèntí tài jiǎndān le, <em>lián</em> sān suì xiǎohái <em>dōu</em> zhīdào.</span><span class="trans">This question is so easy that even a three-year-old kid knows the answer.</span>
 +
*这个 汉字 太 难 了 ,<em>连</em> 我 的 中文 老师 <em>都</em> <strong>不</strong> 认识 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège Hànzì tài nán le, <em>lián</em> wǒ de Zhōngwén lǎoshī <em>dōu</em><strong>bù</strong> rènshi.</span><span class="trans">This Chinese character is so difficult that even my Chinese teacher doesn't know it.</span>
 +
*他 很可怜 ,<em>连</em> 他 妈妈 <em>都</em> <strong>不</strong> 管 他 。<span class="pinyin">Tā hěn kělián, <em>lián</em> tā māma <em>dōu</em> <strong>bù</strong>  guǎn tā.</span><span class="trans">The poor child. Even his mother doesn't care about him.</span>
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*她 什么 都 放 辣 ,<em>连</em> 汤 <em>都</em> 是 辣的 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shénme dōu fàng là, <em>lián</em> tāng <em>dōu</em> shì là de.</span><span class="trans">She put spice in everything. Even the soup is spicy.</span>
 +
*你们 算 什么 好朋友 ?他 <em></em> 结婚 <em></em> <strong>没</strong> 请 你 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen suàn shénme hǎo péngyou, tā <em>lián</em> jiéhūn <em>dōu</em> <strong>méi</strong> qǐng nǐ.</span><span class="trans">What kind of "good friend" are you to him? He didn't even invite you to his wedding.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Examples ==
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Note that 都 can't be omitted in any of these sentences. You really need ''both parts of the pattern''.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*我们家 人 都 会 上网,<em>连</em> 爷爷 <em>也</em> 会。<span class="trans">All of my family know how to surf online. Even Grandpa can.</span>
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<ul>
*她 从早到晚 都 在 玩 手机,<em>连</em> 上 厕所 的时候 <em>都</em> 在 玩。<span class="trans">She plays with her phone all day and every day. Even when she is using the bathroom.</span>
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<li class="x">这个 问题 太 简单 了 ,<em>连</em> 三岁 小孩 知道 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège wèntí tài jiǎndān le, <em>lián</em> sān suì xiǎohái zhīdào.</span></li>
*她 什么 水果 都喜欢 吃,<em></em> 榴莲 <em>也</em> 喜欢。<span class="trans">She likes eating fruits . She even likes durian .</span>
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<li class="x">你们 算 什么 好朋友 ?他 <em>连</em> 结婚 <strong></strong> 请 你 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen suàn shénme hǎo péngyou? Tā <em>lián</em> jiéhūn <strong>méi</strong> qǐng nǐ.</span></li>
*他 太 穷 了,<em>连</em> 吃饭 的 钱 <em>都</em> 没有。<span class="trans">He's so poor. He doesn't even have enough money to eat.</span>
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</ul>
*这个 汉字 太 难懂 了,<em>连</em> 我 的 中文老师<em></em> 不认识。<span class="trans">This Chinese character is too difficult that even my Chinese teacher doesn't know.</span>
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*他 最近 忙 死了,<em></em>睡觉的时间<em></em>没有。<span class="trans">He's been super busy lately that he hasn't even got time to sleep.</span>
 
*这个 问题 太 容易 了,<em>连</em>小孩儿<em>都</em>知道。<span class="trans">This question is so easy that even kids would know.</span>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Structure with "buru" ==
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== Used Before the Object ==
 +
 
 +
Note that for this pattern, the object moves to the front of the sentence instead of coming after the verb as it normally does. After you move the object to the front of the sentence, you can use 连 before the object and 都 before the verb or verb phrase.
 +
 
 +
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 +
连 + Obj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb
 +
</div>
  
+ Noun + 也/都不如
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=== Examples ===
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
 
 +
*他 什么 都 吃,<em></em> 狗肉 <em>都</em> 吃 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shénme dōu chī, <em>lián</em> gǒu ròu <em>dōu</em> chī.</span><span class="trans">He eats everything, even dog meat.</span>
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*你 <em>连</em> 你 最好 的 朋友 <em>都</em> <strong>不</strong> 相信 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>lián</em> nǐ zuìhǎo de péngyou <em>dōu</em> <strong>bù</strong> xiāngxìn?</span><span class="trans">You don't even trust your best friend?</span>
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*你 <em>连</em> 麦当劳 <em>都</em> 吃 不起 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>lián</em> Màidāngláo <em>dōu</em> chī bu qǐ ma?</span><span class="trans">You can't even afford a meal at McDonald's?</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
The important thing to remember is that the noun is being emphasized rather than the action.
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If the object the comes after 连 is a whole sentence, there must be a specific [[interrogative pronoun]] (a "question word") in the sentence.
 
 
== Examples ==
 
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 你 都 上大学了,还 不会 洗衣服,<em></em> 你妹妹 <em>都不如</em><span class="trans">You are in college while you can't wash your own clothes. Even your sister is better than you.</span>
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*你 <em>连</em> 她 叫 <strong>什么</strong> <em></em> <strong>没</strong> 问 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>lián</em> tā jiào <strong>shénme</strong> <em>dōu</em> <strong>méi</strong> wèn?</span><span class="trans">You didn't even ask what her name is? </span>
* 他 经常 打骂 他 的 父母, 真是 <em>连</em> 禽兽 <em>都不如</em><span class="trans">He's always hassling his parents. Even animals are nicer than him.</span>
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*你 怎么了 ?<em>连</em> 你 住 <strong>在 哪儿</strong> <em>都</em> <strong>不</strong> 记得 了 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zěnme le? <em>Lián</em> nǐ zhù <strong>zàinǎr</strong> <em>dōu</em> <strong>bù</strong> jìde le?</span><span class="trans">Are you OK? You can't even remember where you live?</span>  
* 我 帮过 他 那么 多,他 还 这样 说 我,真是<em>连</em>一条狗<em>都不如</em>。<span class="trans">You are a computer expert? How is it that I'm better than you?</span>
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*她 是 你 女朋友 ?你 <em>连</em> 人家 姓 <strong>什么</strong> <em></em> <strong>不</strong> 知道 <span class="pinyin">Tā shì nǐ nǚpéngyou? Nǐ <em>lián</em> rénjia xìng <strong>shénme</strong> <em>dōu</em> <strong>bù</strong> zhīdào.</span><span class="trans">She's your girlfriend? You don't even know what her last name is.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==See also==
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== Avoidance ==
  
*[["Even" as "shenzhi"]]
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If you're an intermediate learner and find yourself ''never'' using this pattern, you're not alone. That's fairly typical. And the truth is that you ''can'' get away with not actively using it for a pretty long time. Eventually you'll get more comfortable with it, but it probably won't come as naturally as some other patterns.
*[[Expressing "every" with "mei" and "dou"]]
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*[["Not at all"]]
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== See also ==
 +
 
 +
*[[Expressing "even" with "shenzhi"]]
 +
*[[Expressing "not even one"]]
 +
*[[Advanced uses of "lian"]]
  
 
== Sources  and further reading ==
 
== Sources  and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) ]] (pp. 152)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7802006473/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7802006473 →buy]
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{{Source|Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) |152}}
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 356-7)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
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{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|356-7}}
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) ]] (pp. 136) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X →buy]
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) |136}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 204-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)|204-5}}
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|连|B1|连… 都/也…|你 <em>连</em> 小狗 <em>都</em> 怕?|grammar point|ASGNP0WV}}
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{{HSK|HSK4}}
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{{Basic Grammar|连|B1|连 + Subj. + (+ 不 / 没) + Verb|你 <em>连</em> 小狗 <em>都</em> 怕 ?|grammar point|ASGNP0WV}}
 
{{Rel char|都}}
 
{{Rel char|都}}
 
{{Rel char|也}}
 
{{Rel char|也}}
{{Similar|Expressing "Every" with "mei" and "dou"}}
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{{Used for|Expressing attitude}}
{{Similar|"Even" as "shenzhi"}}
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{{Used for|Adding more explanation}}
{{Similar|"Let alone" with "bie shuo"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "not even one"}}
{{Similar|"Let Alone" with "geng buyong shuo"}}
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{{Similar|Advanced uses of "lian"}}
{{Similar|Emphasizing quantity with "dou"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "even" with "shenzhi"}}
 +
{{Similar|Expressing "let alone" with "bie shuo"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "let alone" with "geng buyong shuo"}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
{{Used for|Expressing determination}}
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{{Subprop|Basic/Simple Sentence Patterns}}
{{Used for|Adding more explanation}}
 
 
{{Translation|even}}
 
{{Translation|even}}

Latest revision as of 08:38, 11 November 2020

连⋯⋯都⋯⋯ (lián... dōu...) is used similarly to how "even" is used in English and can emphasize certain surprising pieces of information. The tricky part about using it is that you have to remember to use both parts of the pattern (rather than just throwing in one word, like "even" in English).

Used Before the Subject

Structure

连 + Subj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb

Sometimes 也 (yě) is used instead of 都 (dōu), and the two are interchangeable for this pattern, but 都 is more commonly used with 连 (lián), so it's the one we'll use exclusively here.

Examples

  • 这个 问题 太 简单 了 , 三岁 小孩 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 , 我 的 中文 老师 认识 。Zhège Hànzì tài nán le, lián wǒ de Zhōngwén lǎoshī dōu rènshi.This Chinese character is so difficult that even my Chinese teacher doesn't know it.
  • 他 很可怜 , 他 妈妈 管 他 。Tā hěn kělián, lián tā māma dōu guǎn tā.The poor child. Even his mother doesn't care about him.
  • 她 什么 都 放 辣 , 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 结婚 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.

Note that 都 can't be omitted in any of these sentences. You really need both parts of the pattern.

  • 这个 问题 太 简单 了 , 三岁 小孩 知道 。Zhège wèntí tài jiǎndān le, lián sān suì xiǎohái zhīdào.
  • 你们 算 什么 好朋友 ?他 结婚 请 你 。Nǐmen suàn shénme hǎo péngyou? Tā lián jiéhūn méi qǐng nǐ.

Used Before the Object

Note that for this pattern, the object moves to the front of the sentence instead of coming after the verb as it normally does. After you move the object to the front of the sentence, you can use 连 before the object and 都 before the verb or verb phrase.

Structure

连 + Obj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb

Examples

  • 他 什么 都 吃, 狗肉 吃 。Tā shénme dōu chī, lián gǒu ròu dōu chī.He eats everything, even dog meat.
  • 你 最好 的 朋友 相信 ?lián nǐ zuìhǎo de péngyou dōu xiāngxìn?You don't even trust your best friend?
  • 麦当劳 吃 不起 吗 ?lián Màidāngláo dōu chī bu qǐ ma?You can't even afford a meal at McDonald's?

If the object the comes after 连 is a whole sentence, there must be a specific interrogative pronoun (a "question word") in the sentence.

  • 她 叫 什么 问 ?lián tā jiào shénme dōu méi wèn?You didn't even ask what her name is?
  • 你 怎么了 ? 你 住 在 哪儿 记得 了 ?Nǐ zěnme le? Lián nǐ zhù zàinǎr dōu jìde le?Are you OK? You can't even remember where you live?
  • 她 是 你 女朋友 ?你 人家 姓 什么 知道 。Tā shì nǐ nǚpéngyou? Nǐ lián rénjia xìng shénme dōu zhīdào.She's your girlfriend? You don't even know what her last name is.

Avoidance

If you're an intermediate learner and find yourself never using this pattern, you're not alone. That's fairly typical. And the truth is that you can get away with not actively using it for a pretty long time. Eventually you'll get more comfortable with it, but it probably won't come as naturally as some other patterns.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books