Difference between revisions of "Expressing "even" with "lian" and "dou""

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*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>
 
*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 <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>
 
*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 <em>都</em> <strong>不</strong> 发 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen lǎobǎn zhēn xiǎoqì, Zhōngqiū jié <em>lián</em> yuèbǐng <em>dōu</em> <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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Revision as of 07:35, 17 April 2018

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 the Subject

Structure

连 + Subj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb

Examples

  • 这个 问题 太 简单 了 , 三岁 小孩 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 , 我 的 中文 老师 认识 。Zhège Hànzì tài nán le, lián wǒ de Zhōngwén lǎoshī dōu rènshi.This Chinese character is so difficult that even my Chinese teacher doesn't know it.
  • 他 很可怜 , 他 妈妈 管 他 。Tā hěn kělián, lián tā māma dōu guǎn tā.He's such a poor child. Even his mother doesn't care about him.
  • 她 什么 都 放 辣 , 是 辣的 。Tā shénme dōu fàng là, lián tāng dōu shì là de.She put spice in everything. Even the soup is spicy.

Note that 都 can't be omitted.

  • 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 bù rènshi.We had a meeting by Skype.

Used before the Object

Structure

连 + Obj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb

Examples

  • 他 什么 都 吃, 狗肉 吃 。Tā shénme dōu chī, lián gǒu ròu dōu chī.He eats everything, even dog meat.
  • 你 最好 的 的 朋友 相信 ?lián nǐ zuìhǎo de péngyou dōu xiāngxìn?You don't even believe in your best friend?
  • 他 现在 很 穷 , 麦当劳 吃 不起 。Tā xiànzài hěn qióng, lián Màidāngláo dōu chī bu qǐ.He's very poor now. He couldn't even afford a meal at McDonald.

如果"连"后面的宾语是个句子,小句中要有疑问代词。

  • 她 叫 什么 问 ?lián tā jiào shénme dōu méi wèn?You didn't even ask what her name is?
  • 他 女朋友 喜欢 吃 什么 不 知道。 lián tā nǚpéngyou xǐhuan chī shénme dōu bù zhīdào.He doesn't even know what his girlfriend likes to eat?

See also

Sources and further reading

Books