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

Level

B1 / HSK4
Level

B1
Level

HSK4
Similar to
Similar to
- Expressing "not even one" (HSK3)
- Expressing "even" with "shenzhi" (HSK4)
- Expressing "let alone" with "bie shuo" (HSK5)
- Expressing "let alone" with "geng buyong shuo" (HSK5)
Used for

Adding more explanation, Expressing attitude
Keywords

也, 都, 连

连⋯⋯都⋯⋯ (lián... dōu...) is used similarly to how "even" is used in English and can emphasize certain surprising pieces of information. The tricky part about using it is that you have to remember to use both parts of the pattern (rather than just throwing in one word, like "even" in English).

Used Before the Subject

Structure

连 + Subj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb

Sometimes 也 (yě) is used instead of 都 (dōu), and the two are interchangeable for this pattern, but 都 is more commonly used with 连 (lián), so it's the one we'll use exclusively here.

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.
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 dōubù rènshi.This Chinese character is so difficult that even my Chinese teacher doesn't know it.
他很可怜，连他妈妈都不管他。Tā hěn kělián, lián tā māma dōu bù guǎn tā.The poor child. Even his mother doesn't care about him.
她什么都放辣，连汤都是辣的。Tā shénme dōu fàng là, lián tāng dōu shì là de.She put spice in everything. Even the soup is spicy.
你们算什么好朋友？他连结婚都没请你。Nǐmen suàn shénme hǎo péngyou, tā lián jiéhūn dōu méi qǐng nǐ.What kind of "good friend" are you to him? He didn't even invite you to his wedding.

Note that 都 can't be omitted in any of these sentences. You really need both parts of the pattern.

这个问题太简单了，连三岁小孩知道。Zhège wèntí tài jiǎndān le, lián sān suì xiǎohái zhīdào.
你们算什么好朋友？他连结婚没请你。Nǐmen suàn shénme hǎo péngyou? Tā lián jiéhūn méi qǐng nǐ.

Used Before the Object

Note that for this pattern, the object moves to the front of the sentence instead of coming after the verb as it normally does. After you move the object to the front of the sentence, you can use 连 before the object and 都 before the verb or verb phrase.

Structure

连 + Obj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb

Examples

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.
你连你最好的朋友都不相信？Nǐ lián nǐ zuìhǎo de péngyou dōu bù xiāngxìn?You don't even trust your best friend?
你连麦当劳都吃不起吗？Nǐ lián Màidāngláo dōu chī bu qǐ ma?You can't even afford a meal at McDonald's?

If the object the comes after 连 is a whole sentence, there must be a specific interrogative pronoun (a "question word") in the sentence.

你连她叫什么都没问？Nǐ lián tā jiào shénme dōu méi wèn?You didn't even ask what her name is?
你怎么了？连你住 在哪儿 都不记得了？Nǐ zěnme le? Lián nǐ zhù zàinǎr dōu bù jìde le?Are you OK? You can't even remember where you live?
她是你女朋友？你连人家姓什么都不知道。Tā shì nǐ nǚpéngyou? Nǐ lián rénjia xìng shénme dōu bù zhīdào.She's your girlfriend? You don't even know what her last name is.

Avoidance

If you're an intermediate learner and find yourself never using this pattern, you're not alone. That's fairly typical. And the truth is that you can get away with not actively using it for a pretty long time. Eventually you'll get more comfortable with it, but it probably won't come as naturally as some other patterns.

Sources and further reading

Books

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

Contents

Used Before the Subject

Structure

Examples

Used Before the Object

Structure

Examples

Avoidance

See also

Sources and further reading

Books