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

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"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.

Used before Subject

Structure

连 + Subj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb

Examples

  • 这个 汉字 太 难 了 , 我 的 中文 老师 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.
  • 我们 家 人人 都 炒股 , 我 奶奶 炒 。Wǒmen jiā rénrén dōu chǎogǔ, lián wǒ nǎinai dōu chǎo.Everyone in my family plays the stock market, even my grandma does.

Used before Object

Structure

连 + Obj. + 都 (+不 / 没) + Verb

Examples

  • 你们 不 相信 ?Nǐmen liándōu bù xiāngxìn? How come you don't even believe in me?
  • 他 什么 都 吃, 狗肉 吃 。He eats everything, even dog meat.
  • 他 的 名字 没 听说 过 ?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 他 叫 什么 不 问?Nǐmen lián tā jiào shénme dōu bù wèn? How come you don't even believe in me?
  • 他 女朋友 喜欢 吃 什么 不 知道。 lián tā nǚpéngyou xǐhuan chī shénme dōu bù zhīdào.How come you don't even believe in me?
  • 我 每天 跟 谁 一起 吃 午饭 要 问。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

The verb used in this structure is mostly one syllable verb.

Structure

连 + Verb + 都 + 不 / 没 + Verb (,就 ⋯⋯)

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

Examples

  • 这个 人 我 没 见 过 。Zhège rén wǒ lián jiàn dōu méi jiàn guo.I didn't meet this at all.
  • 你 怎么 不 想 ?Nǐ zěnme lián xiǎng dōu bù xiǎng?How did you not think about it at all?
  • 没 看 ,就 说 我 的 衣服 很 难看 。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.
  • 不 问 ,就 把 我们 的 东西 扔 掉 了 。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 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?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books