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Expressing "even" with "lian" and "dou"
=======================================
[](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/ASGNP0WV)
-
Level
[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)
-
Similar to
- [Expressing "even" with
"shenzhi"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22even%22_with_%22shenzhi%22) (B2)
- [Expressing "let alone" with "bie
shuo"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22let_alone%22_with_%22bie_shuo%22) (B2)
- [Expressing "let alone" with "geng buyong
shuo"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22let_alone%22_with_%22geng_buyong_shuo%22) (B2)
- [Expressing "not even
one"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22not_even_one%22) (B2)
-
Used for
[Expressing
attitude](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_attitude),
[Adding more
explanation](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Adding_more_explanation)
-
Keywords
[连](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E8%BF%9E),
[都](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E9%83%BD),
[也](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E4%B9%9F)
-
Translations
[even](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Even)
[{width="300"
height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki-lian.jpg)
Contents
--------
[hide]([# "wikilink")\]
- [1 Used before
the Subject](#Used_before_the_Subject "wikilink")
- [1.1
Structure](#Structure "wikilink")
- [1.2
Examples](#Examples "wikilink")
- [2 Used before
the Object](#Used_before_the_Object "wikilink")
- [2.1
Structure](#Structure_2 "wikilink")
- [2.2
Examples](#Examples_2 "wikilink")
- [3
Avoidance](#Avoidance "wikilink")
- [4 See
also](#See_also "wikilink")
- [5 Sources and
further reading](#Sources_and_further_reading "wikilink")
- [5.1
Books](#Books "wikilink")
连 + Subj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb
Sometimes 也 (yě) is used instead of 都 (dōu), and the two are
interchangeable for this pattern, but 都 is more commonly used with 连
(lián), so it's the one we'll use exclusively here.
### Examples
- 这个 问题 太 简单 了 ，*连* 三岁 小孩 *都* 知道
。This question is so
easy that even a three-year-old kid knows the answer.
- 这个 汉字 太 难 了 ，*连* 我 的 中文 老师 *都* **不** 认识
。This Chinese
character is so difficult that even my Chinese teacher doesn't know
it.
- 他 很可怜 ，*连* 他 妈妈 *都* **不** 管 他 。He's such a poor child. Even his
mother doesn't care about him.
- 她 什么 都 放 辣 ，*连* 汤 *都* 是 辣的 。She put spice in everything. Even the
soup is spicy.
- 你们 算 什么 好朋友 ？他 *连* 结婚 *都* **没** 请 你
。What kind of
friend are you to him? He didn't even invite you to his
wedding.
Note that 都 can't be omitted in any of these sentences. You really need
*both parts of the pattern*.
- 这个 问题 太 简单 了 ，*连* 三岁 小孩 知道
。
- 你们 算 什么 好朋友 ？他 *连* 结婚 **没** 请 你
。
Used before the Object
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
### Structure
连 + Obj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb
### Examples
- 他 什么 都 吃，*连* 狗肉 *都* 吃 。He eats
everything, even dog meat.
- 你 *连* 你 最好 的 朋友 *都* **不** 相信 ？You don't even trust your best
friend?
- 你 *连* 麦当劳 *都* 吃 不起 吗 ？You can't
even afford a meal at McDonald's?
If the object behind 连 is a sentence, there must be a specific
interrogative pronoun in the sentence.
- 你 *连* 她 叫 **什么** *都* **没** 问 ？You didn't even ask what her name is?
- 你 怎么了 ？*连* 你 住 **在 哪儿** *都* **不** 记得 了
？Are you OK? You can't even
remember where you live?
- 她 是 你 女朋友 ？你 *连* 人家 姓 **什么** *都* **不** 知道
。She's your
girlfriend? You don't even know what her last name is.
Avoidance
---------------------------------------------------------
If you're an intermediate learner and find yourself *never* using this
pattern, you're not alone. That's fairly typical. And the truth is that
you *can* get away with not actively using it for a pretty long time.
Eventually you'll get more comfortable with it, but it probably won't
come as naturally as some other patterns.
See also
-------------------------------------------------------
- [Expressing "even" with
"shenzhi"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22even%22_with_%22shenzhi%22)
- [Expressing "not even
one"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22not_even_one%22)
- [Advanced uses of
"lian"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Advanced_uses_of_%22lian%22)
Sources and further reading
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
### Books
- [Common Chinese Patterns
330 (汉语常用格式330例)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Common_Chinese_Patterns_330_(%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%B8%B8%E7%94%A8%E6%A0%BC%E5%BC%8F330%E4%BE%8B)) (pp.
152) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2zBMfhl)
- [Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical
Guide](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Modern_Mandarin_Chinese_Grammar:_A_Practical_Guide) (pp.
356-7) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2xCpX2m)
- [New Practical Chinese Reader
3 (新实用汉语课本3)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_3_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC3)) (pp.
136)
[→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/756191251X/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=756191251X)
- [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2
(3rd ed)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_2_(3rd_ed)) (pp.
204-5) [→buy](http://amzn.to/2femBuy)
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[Category](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:Categories):
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