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Expressing "even" with 连 ("lian2") and 都 ("dou1")

连 lián

Grammar
HSK 3

Structure

连 + Subj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb 连 + Obj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb

Translations

  • even

Definition

“连...都...”结构用于强调极端情况，表示“甚至...都...”，常与否定或肯定形式连用，突出说话人的惊讶或强调。

The '连...都...' structure is used to emphasize an extreme case, meaning 'even...', often used with negative or affirmative forms to highlight the speaker's surprise or emphasis.

Usage

结构为：连 + 名词/动词短语 + 都 + 谓语。其中“都”可以替换为“也”。用于表达某个动作或状态在极端条件下依然成立或不成立，常带有出乎意料的含义。

The structure is: 连 + noun/verb phrase + 都 + predicate. '都' can be replaced with '也'. It is used to express that an action or state still holds or does not hold under extreme conditions, often with a sense of surprise.

Examples

  • 1 他连一个汉字都不认识。 (He doesn't even know one Chinese character.)
  • 2 连小孩子都懂这个道理。 (Even children understand this principle.)
  • 3 我连早饭都没吃就来上班了。 (I came to work without even having breakfast.)
  • 4 连老师都回答不了这个问题。 (Even the teacher can't answer this question.)
  • 5 他连看都没看我就走了。 (He left without even looking at me.)

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