Expressing "even" with "lian" and "dou"
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
"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 + Adj. / Verb
Examples
- 我们 家 的 人 都 有 手机，连 我 八岁 的 弟弟 也 有。All of my family have cellphones. Even my eight-year-old brother does.
- 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.
- 你 怎么 这么 穷？ 连 一 顿 饭 都 请 不起。How could you be so poor? You can't even buy one meal for someone.
- 我们 家 是 老婆 管钱。我 连 吃饭 的 钱 都 要 找 她 要。.
- 这个 汉字 太 难懂 了，连 我 的 中文老师也 不认识。This Chinese character is so difficult that even my Chinese teacher doesn't know it.
- 他 最近 忙 死了，连吃饭 的 时间也没有。He's been super busy lately that he hasn't even got time to eat.
- 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
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
