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.

Basic Structure

连 + Noun + 也/都 + Adjective/Verb

Examples

• 我们家 人 都 会 上网，连 爷爷 也 会。All of my family know how to surf online. Even Grandpa can.
• 她 从早到晚 都 在 玩 手机，连 上 厕所 的时候 都 在 玩。She plays with her phone all day and every day. Even when she is using the bathroom.
• 她 什么 水果 都喜欢 吃，连 榴莲 也 喜欢。She likes eating fruits. She even likes durian .
• 他 太 穷 了，连 吃饭 的 钱 都 没有。He's so poor. He doesn't even have enough money to eat.
• 这个 汉字 太 难懂 了，连 我 的 中文老师都 不认识。This Chinese character is so difficult that even my Chinese teacher doesn't know it.
• 他 最近 忙 死了，连睡觉的时间都没有。He's been super busy lately that he hasn't even got time to sleep.
• 这个 问题 太 容易 了，连小孩儿都知道。This question is so easy that even kids would know.

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