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 ⋯⋯" (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.
Contents
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 。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 。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 。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 ?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 ?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?How come you don't even believe in me?
- 他 连 他 女朋友 喜欢 吃 什么 都 不 知道。 How come you don't even believe in me?
- 她 连 我 每天 跟 谁 一起 吃 午饭 都 要 问。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 。I didn't meet this at all.
- 你 怎么 连 想 都 不 想 ?How did you not think about it at all?
- 他 连 看 都 没 看 ,就 说 我 的 衣服 很 难看 。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 。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 ?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 。He couldn't even speak one sentence in Chinese two years ago.
- 他 连 一 个 朋友 都 没有 ?He doesn't even have a friend.
- 我们 连 一 次 都 没 见 过 。We haven't even met once.
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