Expressing "even" with "shenzhi"

甚至 (shènzhì) is similar to "even" in English and is used for emphasis. Like "even"， it can be used quite directly or in a more subtle manner. When used more subtly it acts to supplement the speaker’s initial thought, creating the impression that the speaker has realized half way through his statement that he hasn’t gone far enough, and wants to take the idea one step further.

甚至 used for direct emphasis

Structure

Here 甚至 is used in a more direct manner.

甚至 + focus of emphasis

Examples

• 他 骑 自行车 的 速度 甚至 比 汽车 还 快。He rides his bike even faster than cars.
• 他 是 个 探险家，他 甚至 去 过 北极。He is an explorer. He's even been to the North Pole.
• 在 中国，不但 教育 水平 高 的 人 会 背诵 唐诗， 甚至 连 小 孩子 都 会。In China, not only can well-educated people recite Tang poems, even small children can.

Note the phrase following 甚至 often uses 连, 都 or 也 to add further emphasis.

甚至 used for more subtle emphasis

Structure

In this structure, the 甚至 takes things up another degree.

甚至 + supplementary thought

Examples

• 前 女友 的 照片 让 他 感到 遗憾, 甚至 痛苦。The picture of his last girlfriend made him feel regret, it even pained him.
• 我 觉得 两天 内 完成 这个 任务 很 难，甚至 是 不 可能 的。I think that finishing this task in two days will be very difficult, maybe even impossible.

See also

• Expressing "even" with "lian" and "dou"
• Combining verbs with "bing"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 228) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 5 (新实用汉语课本5) (pp. 72)→buy
• Short-term Spoken Chinese: Pre-Intermediate (汉语口语速成提高篇) (pp. 133) →buy