Expressing "even" with "lian" and "dou"

"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.

连 Followed by Noun

Structure

连 + Obj. + 都 (+不 / 没) + Verb

or

连 + Subj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb

Examples

• 你们 连 我 都 不 相信 ？Nǐmen lián wǒ dōu bù xiāngxìn? How come you don't even believe in me?
• 他 什么 都 吃，连 狗肉 都 吃 。He eats everything, even dog meat.
• 你 连 他 的 名字 都 没 听说 过 ？Nǐ liántā de míngzi dōu méi tīngshuō guo? You haven't even heard about his name?
• 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.
• 我们 家 人人 都 炒股 ，连 我 奶奶 都 炒 。Wǒmen jiā rénrén dōu chǎogǔ, lián wǒ nǎinai dōu chǎo.Everyone in my family plays the stock market, even my grandma does.

连 Followed by Verb

The verb used in this structure is mostly one syllable verb.

Structure

连 + Verb + 也 / 都 + 不 / 没 + Verb（，就⋯⋯）

Using this type of sentence structure emphasizes "not even at all..."

Examples

• 我 连 见 都 没 见 过 。 Wǒ lián jiàn dōu méi jiàn guo.I didn't meet him at all.
• 你 怎么 连 想 都 不 想 ？Nǐ zěnme lián xiǎng dōu bù xiǎng? How did you not think about it at all?
• 他 连 看 都 没 看 ， 就 说 我 的 衣服 很 难看 。 Tā lián kàn dōu méi kàn, jiù shuō wǒ de yīfu hěn nánkàn.He didn't even look at them at all, he just said my clothes were ugly.
• 他 连 问 都 不 问 ， 就 把 我们 的 东西 扔 掉 了 。 Tā lián wèn dōu bù wèn, jiù bǎ wǒmen de dōngxi rēngdiào le.He didn't even ask at all, he just threw away my stuff.
• 你们 连 尝 都 没 尝 ， 怎么 知道 不 好吃 ？ Nǐmen lián cháng dōu méi cháng, zěnme zhīdào bù hǎochī? You guys didn't even taste it at all, how do you know that it tastes bad?

连 Followed by Sentence

"连"用在小句前，小句中要有疑问代词。

Structure

连 + Sentence + 都 / 也 + Verb Phrase

Examples

• 你们 连 他 叫 什么 都 不 问？Nǐmen lián tā jiào shénme dōu bù wèn? How come you don't even believe in me?
• 他 连 他 女朋友 喜欢 吃 什么 都 不 知道。 Tā lián tā nǚpéngyou xǐhuan chī shénme dōu bù zhīdào.How come you don't even believe in me?
• 她 连 我 每天 跟 谁 一起 吃饭 都 要 问。Tā lián wǒ měi tiān gēn shéi yīqǐ chīfàn dōu yào wèn. <She even asks me about who I have dinner with everyday.

See also

• "Even" as "shenzhi"
• Expressing "every" with "mei" and "dou"
• "Not at all"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) (pp. 152)→buy
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 356-7)→buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 136) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 204-5) →buy