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

"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.

Basic Usage

Used before 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Used before Object

Structure

连 + Obj. + 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 。Tā shénme dōu chī, lián gǒu ròu dōu chī.He eats everything, even dog meat.
  • 他 的 名字 没 听说 过 ?lián tā de míngzi dōu méi tīngshuō guo?You haven't even heard about his name?

如果"连"后面的宾语是个句子,小句中要有疑问代词。

  • 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 午饭 要 问。lián wǒ měi tiān gēn shéi yīqǐ chī wǔfàn dōu yào wèn.She even asks me about who I have lunch with everyday.

Advanced Usage

连 as "Not at All"

Structure

连 + Verb + 都 + 不 / 没 + Verb (,就 ⋯⋯)

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

Examples

  • 这个 人 我 没 见 过 。Zhège rén wǒ lián jiàn dōu méi jiàn guo.I didn't meet this 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 as "Not even One"

"连"在这个句型中,是语气副词,加强语气。去掉不影响句子的完整性。详见Expressing "not even one"

Structure

连 + 一 + Measure Word + (Noun) + 都 + 不 / 没 + Verb

Examples

  • 两 年 前,他 一 句 中文 不 会 说 。Liǎng nián qián, tā lián yī jù Zhōngwén dōu bù huì shuō.He couldn't even speak one sentence in Chinese two years ago.
  • 一 个 朋友 没有 ?lián yī gè péngyou dōu méiyǒu?He doesn't even have a friend?
  • 我们 一 次 没 见 过 。Wǒmen lián yī cì dōu méi jiàn guo.We haven't even met once.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books