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- === Sample Sentence Options === - Spaces -  Hide spaces between Chinese words - Pinyin -  Hide pinyin - Translations -  Hide translations

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

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Level

[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)

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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)

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Used for

[Expressing attitude](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_attitude), [Adding more explanation](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Adding_more_explanation)

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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)

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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)

连⋯⋯都⋯⋯ (lián... dōu...) is used similarly to how *even* is used in English and can emphasize certain surprising pieces of information (*even* shocking secrets!). The tricky part about using it is that you have to remember to use both parts of the pattern.

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")

Used before the Subject ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Structure

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 。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. - 这个 汉字 太 难 了 ，*连* 我 的 中文 老师 *都* **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. - 他 很可怜 ，*连* 他 妈妈 *都* **不** 管 他 。Tā hěn kělián, *lián* tā māma *dōu* **bù** guǎn tā.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 。Tā shénme dōu fàng là, *lián* tāng *dōu* shì là de.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 。Nǐmen suàn shénme hǎo péngyou, tā *lián* jiéhūn *dōu* **méi** qǐng nǐ.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 。Zhège wèntí tài jiǎndān le, *lián* sān suì xiǎohái zhīdào. - 你们 算 什么 好朋友 ？他 *连* 结婚 **没** 请 你 。Nǐmen suàn shénme hǎo péngyou? Tā *lián* jiéhūn **méi** qǐng nǐ.

Used before the Object ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Structure

连 + Obj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb

### Examples

- 他 什么 都 吃，*连* 狗肉 *都* 吃 。Tā shénme dōu chī, *lián* gǒu ròu *dōu* chī.He eats everything, even dog meat. - 你 *连* 你 最好 的 朋友 *都* **不** 相信 ？Nǐ *lián* nǐ zuìhǎo de péngyou *dōu* **bù** xiāngxìn?You don't even trust your best friend? - 你 *连* 麦当劳 *都* 吃 不起 吗 ？Nǐ *lián* Màidāngláo *dōu* chī bu qǐ ma?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 ？Nǐ *lián* tā jiào **shénme** *dōu* **méi** wèn?You didn't even ask what her name is? - 你 怎么了 ？*连* 你 住 **在 哪儿** *都* **不** 记得 了 ？Nǐ zěnme le? *Lián* nǐ zhù **zàinǎr** *dōu* **bù** jìde le?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 。Tā shì nǐ nǚpéngyou? Nǐ *lián* rénjia xìng **shénme** *dōu* **bù** zhīdào.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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