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

"连⋯⋯ 都 / 也⋯⋯" (lián...dōu/yě...) 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.

连 before the Subj.

Structure

连 + Subj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb

Examples

  • 你们 不 相信 ?Nǐmen liándōu bù xiāngxìn? How come you don't even believe in me?
  • 他 什么 都 吃, 狗肉 吃 。He eats everything, even dog meat.
  • 他 的 名字 没 听说 过 ?liántā de míngzi dōu méi tīngshuō guo? You haven't even heard about his name?
  • 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 dōu bù rènshi.This Chinese character is so difficult that even my Chinese teacher doesn't know it.
  • 我们 家 人人 都 炒股 , 我 奶奶 炒 。Wǒmen jiā rénrén dōu chǎogǔ, lián wǒ nǎinai dōu chǎo.Everyone in my family plays the stock market, even my grandma does.

连 Followed by Verb

The verb used in this structure is mostly one syllable verb.

Structure

连 + Verb + 也 / 都 + 不 / 没 + Verb(,就⋯⋯)

Using this type of sentence structure emphasizes "not even at all..."

Examples

  • 没 见 过 。 lián jiàn dōu méi jiàn guo.I didn't meet him at all.
  • 你 怎么 不 想 ?Nǐ zěnme lián xiǎng dōu bù xiǎng? How did you not think about it at all?
  • 没 看 , 就 说 我 的 衣服 很 难看 。 lián kàn dōu méi kàn, jiù shuō wǒ de yīfu hěn nánkàn.He didn't even look at them at all, he just said my clothes were ugly.
  • 不 问 , 就 把 我们 的 东西 扔 掉 了 。 lián wèn dōu bù wèn, jiù bǎ wǒmen de dōngxi rēngdiào le.He didn't even ask at all, he just threw away my stuff.
  • 你们 没 尝 , 怎么 知道 不 好吃 ? Nǐmen lián cháng dōu méi cháng, zěnme zhīdào bù hǎochī? You guys didn't even taste it at all, how do you know that it tastes bad?

连 Followed by Sentence

"连"用在小句前,小句中要有疑问代词。

Structure

连 + Sentence + 都 / 也 + Verb Phrase

Examples

  • 你们 他 叫 什么 不 问?Nǐmen lián tā jiào shénme dōu bù wèn? How come you don't even believe in me?
  • 他 女朋友 喜欢 吃 什么 不 知道。 lián tā nǚpéngyou xǐhuan chī shénme dōu bù zhīdào.How come you don't even believe in me?
  • 我 每天 跟 谁 一起 吃饭 要 问。lián wǒ měi tiān gēn shéi yīqǐ chīfàn dōu yào wèn. <She even asks me about who I have dinner with everyday.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books