[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fgc10QUl1md5H5g41Pl7f8HwrcfyCWqDhHNWaJE3ilCQ":3},{"success":4,"data":5},true,{"id":6,"group_id":7,"locale":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"level":11,"content":12,"seo_title":13,"seo_description":14,"cover_image_url":15,"is_published":4,"created_at":16,"updated_at":16,"type":17,"alternate_urls":18,"examples":19,"quizzes":33},43,"2a6a9bed-5d3a-480a-926e-2a5322cb3a08","en","lian-dou-ye-chinese-grammar","Mastering the \"连...都\u002F也...\" Structure: Express \"Even\" in Chinese","HSK 3","## 1. Meaning and Usage\n\nThe structure **连...都\u002F也...** (lián... dōu\u002Fyě...) is a fundamental Chinese grammar pattern used to express emphasis, surprise, or exaggeration. It translates closely to **\"even...\"** in English.\n\nBy highlighting an extreme, unexpected, or highly unlikely example, this structure implies that other, more normal cases are naturally included. For instance, if *even a genius* cannot solve a problem, it implies that ordinary people certainly cannot. \n\n* **连 (lián)** acts as a preposition meaning \"even\" and is placed before the emphasized element (which can be a subject, object, or verb).\n* **都 (dōu)** or **也 (yě)** acts as an adverb meaning \"all\" or \"also\" and must be placed before the verb or adjective. While they are mostly interchangeable, **都** is more common in affirmative sentences, whereas **也** is frequently used in negative sentences.\n\n---\n\n## 2. Formulas and Examples\n\n### Case 1: Emphasizing the Subject\nWhen the emphasized element is the agent performing the action, \"连\" is placed directly before the subject at the very beginning of the sentence.\n\n$$\\text{连} + \\text{Subject} + \\text{都\u002F也} + \\text{Verb \u002F Adj}$$\n\n> **连孩子都知道这个秘密。**\n> *Lián háizi dōu zhīdào zhège mìmì.*\n> Even a child knows this secret.\n\n> **这道题连老师也不会。**\n> *Zhè dào tí lián lǎoshī yě bú huì.*\n> Even the teacher doesn't know how to do this question.\n\n### Case 2: Emphasizing the Object\nWhen the emphasized element is the receiver of the action (the object), it must be pulled forward to stand between \"连\" and \"都\u002F也\". \n\n$$\\text{Subject} + \\text{连} + \\text{Object} + \\text{都\u002F也} + \\text{Verb}$$\n\n> **他连水都不喝。**\n> *Tā lián shuǐ dōu bù hē.*\n> He doesn't even drink water.\n\n> **我连他的名字都忘了。**\n> *Wǒ lián tā de míngzi dōu wàng le.*\n> I even forgot his name.\n\n### Case 3: Emphasizing a Minimal Quantity (Extreme Negative)\nTo emphasize a complete lack of something (e.g., \"not even one...\"), use a number (usually \"一\" - one) followed by a measure word and a noun.\n\n$$\\text{Subject} + \\text{连} + \\text{一} + \\text{Measure Word} + \\text{Noun} + \\text{都\u002F也} + \\text{不\u002F没} + \\text{Verb}$$\n\n> **他钱包里连一分钱都没有。**\n> *Tā qiánbāo lǐ lián yì fēn qián dōu méiyǒu.*\n> There is not even a single cent in his wallet.\n\n> **今天我连一杯咖啡也没喝。**\n> *Jīntiān wǒ lián yì bēi kāfēi yě méi hē.*\n> Today I didn't drink even one cup of coffee.\n\n---\n\n## 3. Essential HSK Tips & Common Mistakes\n\n### Mistake 1: Omitting \"都\" or \"也\"\nEnglish speakers often translate \"even\" solely as \"连\" and forget to pair it with \"都\" or \"也\" before the verb. In Chinese, \"连\" cannot stand alone to mean \"even.\"\n\n* **Incorrect:** *他连我认识。 (Incorrect)\n* **Correct:**\n> **他连我都认识。**\n> *Tā lián wǒ dōu rènshi.*\n> He even knows me.\n\n### Mistake 2: Incorrect Object Placement\nIn standard Chinese, objects go after the verb (e.g., 我喝水). However, in the \"连...都\u002F也...\" structure, the emphasized object *must* be preposed (moved before the verb).\n\n* **Incorrect:** *他连不喝水。 (Incorrect)\n* **Correct:**\n> **他连水都不喝。**\n> *Tā lián shuǐ dōu bù hē.*\n> He doesn't even drink water.\n\n### HSK Exam Tip: Omission of \"连\"\nIn colloquial spoken Chinese and on higher-level HSK listening exams, **连** is frequently omitted, but **都** or **也** *must* remain. The sentence still carries the exact same meaning of \"even.\"\n\n> **他一分钱都没有。**\n> *Tā yì fēn qián dōu méiyǒu.*\n> He doesn't even have a single cent. (Here, \"连\" is omitted but the meaning is unchanged).","How to Use 连...都\u002F也... in Chinese (Even...)","Learn how to use the Chinese grammar structure 连...都\u002F也... (lián... dōu\u002Fyě) to express 'even'. Master this key HSK 3 grammar point with clear examples.",null,"2026-07-02T00:12:41.798Z","structure",{"en":9},[20,27],{"id":21,"topic_id":6,"source_type":22,"song_id":15,"chinese_sentence":23,"pinyin_sentence":24,"translation":25,"explanation":26,"created_at":16},96,"ai_standard","他太忙了，连吃饭的时间都没有。","Tā tài máng le, lián chīfàn de shíjiān dōu méiyǒu.","He is so busy that he doesn't even have time to eat.","In this sentence, '连' introduces the extreme case 'time to eat' (吃饭的时间), and '都' is used before the negative verb '没有' to emphasize that even this basic necessity is not possible due to his busyness.",{"id":28,"topic_id":6,"source_type":22,"song_id":15,"chinese_sentence":29,"pinyin_sentence":30,"translation":31,"explanation":32,"created_at":16},97,"这个问题太简单了，连小孩子都知道。","Zhè ge wèntí tài jiǎndān le, lián xiǎoháizi dōu zhīdào.","This question is so simple that even a child knows the answer.","Here, '连' emphasizes the unexpected subject 'children' (小孩子), indicating that the question is so easy that even someone young and inexperienced knows it.",[34,44,54],{"id":35,"topic_id":6,"question_text":36,"options":37,"correct_answer_index":42,"explanation_answer":43,"created_at":16},127,"选择最合适的词语填入空格：\n小张在业内是出了名的‘万事通’，没想到这个问题连_______都一知半解，看来确实是个极其复杂的行业难题。",[38,39,40,41],"A. 刚入行的新手","B. 毫无经验的外行","C. 他这个领域的专家","D. 虚心求教的晚辈",2,"The grammar structure '连...都...' (even...) is used to highlight an extreme, unexpected, or least-likely case to emphasize a point. Here, the context establishes that Xiao Zhang is a renowned '万事通' (know-it-all) and that the problem is extremely difficult. The extreme case that emphasizes this difficulty is that 'even an expert in his field like him' (他这个领域的专家) only has a superficial understanding (一知半解). Options A, B, and D represent people who are naturally expected not to know the answer, which invalidates the emphatic purpose of '连...都...'.",{"id":45,"topic_id":6,"question_text":46,"options":47,"correct_answer_index":52,"explanation_answer":53,"created_at":16},128,"下列句子中，语序（词序）正确的一项是：",[48,49,50,51],"A. 这段时间部门人手不够，他忙得连晚饭都还没来得及吃。","B. 这段时间部门人手不够，他连晚饭都忙得还没来得及吃。","C. 这段时间部门人手不够，他忙得没连晚饭都来得及吃。","D. 这段时间部门人手不够，他忙得连晚饭还没都来得及吃。",0,"In Option A, '忙得' introduces a state complement (so busy that...). The entire '连...都...' clause acts as the result\u002Fcomplement of '忙得', meaning it must follow '忙得' (ruling out B). Within the '连...都...' structure, the adverb '都' must precede the negative aspect marker '还没' (都还没来得及), making C and D grammatically incorrect.",{"id":55,"topic_id":6,"question_text":56,"options":57,"correct_answer_index":62,"explanation_answer":63,"created_at":16},129,"下列句子中，有语法错误的一项是：",[58,59,60,61],"A. 他最近工作压力太大了，连周末都不能好好休息。","B. 他连最基础的数学公式都很不会用，怎么可能做得出这么难的压轴题？","C. 这个景点的名气很大，连外省的游客都纷纷慕名而来。","D. 这部电影的情节非常感人，连一向坚强的他都流下了眼泪。",1,"Option B is grammatically incorrect. In the '连...都\u002F也...' construction, '都\u002F也' already acts as an intensive focus marker to express an extreme state or limit. Because it represents an absolute limit, you cannot modify the subsequent negative verb\u002Fauxiliary with gradable degree adverbs like '很' or '非常'. '很不会用' must be corrected to '都不会用'. Options A, C, and D are grammatically correct."]