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

 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
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.
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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 ==
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== Used Before the Subject ==
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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连 + Subj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb  
 
连 + Subj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb  
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
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 ===
 
=== Examples ===
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*这个 问题 太 简单 了 ,<em>连</em> 三岁 小孩 <em>都</em> 知道 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège wèntí tài jiǎndān le, <em>lián</em> sān suì xiǎohái <em>dōu</em> zhīdào.</span><span class="trans">This question is so easy that even a three-year-old kid knows the answer.</span>
 
*这个 问题 太 简单 了 ,<em>连</em> 三岁 小孩 <em>都</em> 知道 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège wèntí tài jiǎndān le, <em>lián</em> sān suì xiǎohái <em>dōu</em> zhīdào.</span><span class="trans">This question is so easy that even a three-year-old kid knows the answer.</span>
*这个 汉字 太 难 了 ,<em>连</em> 我 的 中文 老师 <em>都</em> 不 认识 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège Hànzì tài nán le, <em>lián</em> wǒ de Zhōngwén lǎoshī <em>dōu</em> bù rènshi.</span><span class="trans">This Chinese character is so difficult that even my Chinese teacher doesn't know it.</span>
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*这个 汉字 太 难 了 ,<em>连</em> 我 的 中文 老师 <em>都</em> <strong>不</strong> 认识 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège Hànzì tài nán le, <em>lián</em> wǒ de Zhōngwén lǎoshī <em>dōu</em><strong>bù</strong> rènshi.</span><span class="trans">This Chinese character is so difficult that even my Chinese teacher doesn't know it.</span>
*他 很可怜 ,<em>连</em> 他 妈妈 <em>都</em> 不 管 他 。<span class="pinyin">Tā hěn kělián, <em>lián</em> tā māma <em>dōu</em> bù guǎn tā.</span><span class="trans">He's such a poor child. Even his mother doesn't care about him.</span>
+
*他 很可怜 ,<em>连</em> 他 妈妈 <em>都</em> <strong>不</strong> 管 他 。<span class="pinyin">Tā hěn kělián, <em>lián</em> tā māma <em>dōu</em> <strong>bù</strong>  guǎn tā.</span><span class="trans">The poor child. Even his mother doesn't care about him.</span>
 
*她 什么 都 放 辣 ,<em>连</em> 汤 <em>都</em> 是 辣的 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shénme dōu fàng là, <em>lián</em> tāng <em>dōu</em> shì là de.</span><span class="trans">She put spice in everything. Even the soup is spicy.</span>
 
*她 什么 都 放 辣 ,<em>连</em> 汤 <em>都</em> 是 辣的 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shénme dōu fàng là, <em>lián</em> tāng <em>dōu</em> shì là de.</span><span class="trans">She put spice in everything. Even the soup is spicy.</span>
 +
*你们 算 什么 好朋友 ?他 <em>连</em> 结婚 <em>都</em> <strong>没</strong> 请 你 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen suàn shénme hǎo péngyou, tā <em>lián</em> jiéhūn <em>dōu</em> <strong>méi</strong> qǐng nǐ.</span><span class="trans">What kind of "good friend" are you to him? He didn't even invite you to his wedding.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
Note that 都 can't be omitted.
+
Note that 都 can't be omitted in any of these sentences. You really need ''both parts of the pattern''.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li class="x">这个 汉字 了 ,<em>连</em> 我 的 中文 老师 不 认识 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège Hànzì tài nán le, <em>lián</em> wǒ de Zhōngwén lǎoshī bù rènshi.</span><span class="trans">We had a meeting by Skype.</span></li>
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<li class="x">这个 问题 简单 了 ,<em>连</em> 三岁 小孩 知道 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège wèntí tài jiǎndān le, <em>lián</em> sān suì xiǎohái zhīdào.</span></li>
 +
<li class="x">你们 算 什么 好朋友 ?他 <em>连</em> 结婚 <strong>没</strong> 请 你 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen suàn shénme hǎo péngyou? Tā <em>lián</em> jiéhūn <strong>méi</strong> qǐng nǐ.</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Used before the Object ==
+
== 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 ===
 
=== Structure ===
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*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>
 
*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 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>
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*你 <em>连</em> 你 最好 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 trust 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>
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*<em>连</em> 麦当劳 <em>都</em> 吃 不起 吗 ?<span class="pinyin"><em>lián</em> Màidāngláo <em>dōu</em> chī bu qǐ ma?</span><span class="trans">You can't even afford a meal at McDonald's?</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 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>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
如果""后面的宾语是个句子,小句中要有疑问代词。
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If the object the comes after 连 is a whole sentence, there must be a specific [[interrogative pronoun]] (a "question word") in the sentence.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
 
*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>
 
*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>
*<em>连</em> 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>
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*你 怎么了 ?<em>连</em> 你 住 <strong>在 哪儿</strong> <em>都</em> <strong>不</strong> 记得 了 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zěnme le? <em>Lián</em> nǐ zhù <strong>zàinǎr</strong> <em>dōu</em> <strong>bù</strong> jìde le?</span><span class="trans">Are you OK? You can't even remember where you live?</span>
 +
*她 是 你 女朋友 ?你 <em>连</em> 人家 姓 <strong>什么</strong> <em>都</em> <strong>不</strong> 知道 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì nǐ nǚpéngyou? Nǐ <em>lián</em> rénjia xìng <strong>shénme</strong> <em>dōu</em> <strong>bù</strong> zhīdào.</span><span class="trans">She's your girlfriend? You don't even know what her last name is.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
== 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.
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
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[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 +
{{HSK|HSK4}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|连|B1|连 + Subj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb|你 <em>连</em> 小狗 <em>都</em> 怕 ?|grammar point|ASGNP0WV}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|连|B1|连 + Subj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb|你 <em>连</em> 小狗 <em>都</em> 怕 ?|grammar point|ASGNP0WV}}
 
{{Rel char|都}}
 
{{Rel char|都}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "let alone" with "geng buyong shuo"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing "let alone" with "geng buyong shuo"}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
 +
{{Subprop|Basic/Simple Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Translation|even}}
 
{{Translation|even}}

Latest revision as of 08:38, 11 November 2020

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 , 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.The 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.
  • 你们 算 什么 好朋友 ?他 结婚 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 , 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 结婚 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, 狗肉 吃 。Tā shénme dōu chī, lián gǒu ròu dōu chī.He eats everything, even dog meat.
  • 你 最好 的 朋友 相信 ?lián nǐ zuìhǎo de péngyou dōu xiāngxìn?You don't even trust your best friend?
  • 麦当劳 吃 不起 吗 ?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.

  • 她 叫 什么 问 ?lián tā jiào shénme dōu méi wèn?You didn't even ask what her name is?
  • 你 怎么了 ? 你 住 在 哪儿 记得 了 ?Nǐ zěnme le? Lián nǐ zhù zàinǎr dōu jìde le?Are you OK? You can't even remember where you live?
  • 她 是 你 女朋友 ?你 人家 姓 什么 知道 。Tā shì nǐ nǚpéngyou? Nǐ lián rénjia xìng shénme dōu 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.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books