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ChineseGrammarWiki


			
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<h1>Expressing "even" with "lian" and "dou"
</h1>


<p>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.
</p>
<h2>Contents
</h2>
  
<div class="contents"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">1 Used before the Subject </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">1.1 Structure </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">1.2 Examples </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">2 Used before the Object </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">2.1 Structure </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">2.2 Examples </span></li>
</ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">3 Avoidance </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">4 See also </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">5 Sources and further reading </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">5.1 Books</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<h2>Used before the Subject</h2>

<h3>Structure</h3>

<div class="deux">连 + Subj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb</div>

<p>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.
</p>
<h3>Examples</h3>

<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">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. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">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 dōubù rènshi.
This Chinese character is so difficult that even my Chinese teacher doesn't know it. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">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. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">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. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">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.</span><br/></li>
</ul>
</div>

<p>Note that 都 can't be omitted in any of these sentences. You really need both parts of the pattern.</p>

<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">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. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">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.</span><br/></li>
</ul>
</div>

<h2>Used before the Object
</h2>
<h3>Structure</h3>

<div class="deux">连 + Obj. + 都 (+ 不 / 没) + Verb</div>

<h3>Examples</h3>

<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">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. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">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? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">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?</span><br/></li>
</ul>
</div>

<p>If the object behind 连 is a sentence, there must be a specific interrogative pronoun in the sentence.
</p>
<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">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?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">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? </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">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.</span><br/></li>
</ul>
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<h2>Avoidance</h2>

<p>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.</p>

<h3>See also</h3>

<div class="See-also"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">Expressing "even" with "shenzhi" </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">Expressing "not even one" </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">Advanced uses of "lian"</span><br/></li>
</ul>
</div>

<h3>Sources and further reading</h3>

<h4>Books</h4>

<div class="See-also"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) (pp. 152) →buy </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 356-7) →buy </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 136) →buy </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 204-5) →buy</span><br/></li>
</ul>
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