Difference between revisions of "Expressing "even" with "lian" and "dou""
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| − | *他 什么 都 吃，<em>连</em> 狗肉 < | + | *他 什么 都 吃，<em>连</em> 狗肉 <em>都</em> 吃 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shénme dōu chī, <em>lián</em> gǒu ròu <em>dōu</em> chī.</span><span class="trans">He eats everything, even dog meat.</span> |
| − | *你 <em>连</em> 你 最好 的 的 朋友 <strong> | + | *你 <em>连</em> 你 最好 的 的 朋友 <em>都</em> <strong>不</strong> 相信 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>lián</em> nǐ zuìhǎo de péngyou <em>dōu</em> <strong>bù</strong> xiāngxìn?</span><span class="trans">You don't even believe in your best friend?</span> |
| − | *他 现在 很 穷 ，<em>连</em> 麦当劳 < | + | *他 现在 很 穷 ，<em>连</em> 麦当劳 <em>都</em> 吃 不起 。<span class="pinyin">Tā xiànzài hěn qióng, <em>lián</em> Màidāngláo <em>dōu</em> chī bu qǐ.</span><span class="trans">He's very poor now. He couldn't even afford a meal at McDonald.</span> |
| − | *你们 老板 真 小气 ，中秋节 <em>连</em> 月饼 <strong> | + | *你们 老板 真 小气 ，中秋节 <em>连</em> 月饼 <em>都</em> <strong>不</strong> 发 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen lǎobǎn zhēn xiǎoqì, Zhōngqiū jié <em>lián</em> yuèbǐng dōu <strong>bù</strong> fā.</span><span class="trans">Your boss is so petty. He didn't even give mooncakes on Mid-autumn Festival.</span> |
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| − | *你 <em>连</em> 她 叫 <strong>什么</strong> < | + | *你 <em>连</em> 她 叫 <strong>什么</strong> <em>都</em> <strong>没</strong> 问 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>lián</em> tā jiào <strong>shénme</strong> <em>dōu</em> <strong>méi</strong> wèn?</span><span class="trans">You didn't even ask what her name is? </span> |
*他 <em>连</em> 他 女朋友 喜欢 吃 <strong>什么</strong> <strong>都</strong> 不 知道。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>lián</em> tā nǚpéngyou xǐhuan chī <strong>shénme</strong> <strong>dōu</strong> bù zhīdào.</span><span class="trans">He doesn't even know what his girlfriend likes to eat? </span> | *他 <em>连</em> 他 女朋友 喜欢 吃 <strong>什么</strong> <strong>都</strong> 不 知道。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>lián</em> tā nǚpéngyou xǐhuan chī <strong>shénme</strong> <strong>dōu</strong> bù zhīdào.</span><span class="trans">He doesn't even know what his girlfriend likes to eat? </span> | ||
Revision as of 07:30, 17 April 2018
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Level
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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
Used before the 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.
- 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.
- 他 很可怜 ，连 他 妈妈 都 不 管 他 。He's such a poor child. Even his mother doesn't care about him.
- 她 什么 都 放 辣 ，连 汤 都 是 辣的 。She put spice in everything. Even the soup is spicy.
Note that 都 can't be omitted.
- 这个 汉字 太 难 了 ，连 我 的 中文 老师 不 认识 。We had a meeting by Skype.
Used before the Object
Structure
连 + Obj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb
Examples
- 他 什么 都 吃，连 狗肉 都 吃 。He eats everything, even dog meat.
- 你 连 你 最好 的 的 朋友 都 不 相信 ？You don't even believe in your best friend?
- 他 现在 很 穷 ，连 麦当劳 都 吃 不起 。He's very poor now. He couldn't even afford a meal at McDonald.
- 你们 老板 真 小气 ，中秋节 连 月饼 都 不 发 。Your boss is so petty. He didn't even give mooncakes on Mid-autumn Festival.
如果"连"后面的宾语是个句子，小句中要有疑问代词。
- 你 连 她 叫 什么 都 没 问 ？You didn't even ask what her name is?
- 他 连 他 女朋友 喜欢 吃 什么 都 不 知道。 He doesn't even know what his girlfriend likes to eat?
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) (pp. 152) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 356-7) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 136) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 204-5) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
