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

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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 trust 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>
 
*你 <em>连</em> 麦当劳 <em>都</em> 吃 不起 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <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 <em>连</em> 麦当劳 <em>都</em> 吃 不起 吗 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <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>
  

Revision as of 02:54, 7 September 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.
  • 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 friend are you to him? He didn't even invite you to his wedding.

Note that 都 can't be omitted.

  • 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

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 behind 连 is a sentence, there must be a specific interrogative pronoun 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 叫 什么 知道 。Tā shì nǐ nǚpéngyou? Nǐ lián rénjia jiào shénme dōu zhīdào.She's your girlfriend? You doesn't even know what her name is.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books