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

"连⋯⋯ 都 ⋯⋯" (lián... dōu...) 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 Usage

Used before Subject

Structure

连 + Subj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb

Examples

• 这个 问题 太 简单 了 ，连 三岁 小孩 都 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Used before Object

Structure

连 + Obj. + 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 。Tā shénme dōu chī, lián gǒu ròu dōu chī.He eats everything, even dog meat.
• 你 连 他 的 名字 都 没 听说 过 ？Nǐ lián tā de míngzi dōu méi tīngshuō guo?You haven't even heard about his name?

如果"连"后面的宾语是个句子，小句中要有疑问代词。

• 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 午饭 都 要 问。Tā lián wǒ měi tiān gēn shéi yīqǐ chī wǔfàn dōu yào wèn.She even asks me about who I have lunch with everyday.

Advanced Usage

连 as "Not at All"

Structure

连 + Verb + 都 + 不 / 没 + Verb (，就 ⋯⋯)

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

Examples

• 这个 人 我 连 见 都 没 见 过 。Zhège rén wǒ lián jiàn dōu méi jiàn guo.I didn't meet this 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 as "Not even One"

"连"在这个句型中，是语气副词，加强语气。去掉不影响句子的完整性。详见Expressing "not even one"。

Structure

连 + 一 + Measure Word + (Noun) + 都 + 不 / 没 + Verb

Examples

• 两 年 前，他 连 一 句 中文 都 不 会 说 。Liǎng nián qián, tā lián yī jù Zhōngwén dōu bù huì shuō.He couldn't even speak one sentence in Chinese two years ago.
• 他 连 一 个 朋友 都 没有 ？Tā lián yī gè péngyou dōu méiyǒu?He doesn't even have a friend?
• 我们 连 一 次 都 没 见 过 。Wǒmen lián yī cì dōu méi jiàn guo.We haven't even met once.

See also

• Expressing "even" with "shenzhi"
• Expressing "not even one"

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