Expressing "even" with "shenzhi"

甚至 (shènzhì) is similar to "even" in English. It is often used to emphasise a person’s or group’s ability to do something. It can also be used to supplement the speaker’s initial thought, creating the impression that the speaker has realized half way through his statement that he hasn’t gone far enough, and wants to take the idea one step further.

Structure

When used as a conjunction, it is generally used to emphasize the last idea of the sentence. Sometimes this kind of sentence has the feeling that the speaker realizes half way through the sentence that they haven't gone far enough, and want to take the idea one step further.

For example:

• 前 女友 的 照片 让 他 感到 遗憾 甚至 痛苦。
• 在 中国，不但 教育 水平 高 的 人 会 背诵 唐诗， 甚至 连 小 孩子 都 会。
• 我 觉得 两天 内 完成 这个 任务 很 难，甚至 是 不 可能 的。

甚至 used as an adverb

甚至 also can be used as an adverb, and is used like this:

• 他 骑 自行车 的 速度 甚至 比 汽车 还 快。
• 他 是 个 探险家，他 甚至 去 过 北极。

The phrase following 甚至 often uses 连, 都 or 也 to add further emphasis.

See also

• Expressing "Even" with "lian" and "dou"
• Combining Verbs with "bing"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 228) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 5 (新实用汉语课本5) (pp. 72)→buy
• Short-term Spoken Chinese: Pre-Intermediate (汉语口语速成提高篇) pp 133 NEEDS AFFILIATE LINK