HSK 4 grammar · new HSK syllabus
连…都 / 也…: even
连 A 都 B = even A…: 他连饭都没吃. It stresses something surprising.
Structure
- 连 + noun / verb + 都 / 也 + …
How it works
连…都/也… puts emphasis on an extreme example: 他忙得连饭都没时间吃 = he was so busy he didn’t even have time to eat.
The emphasised part goes between 连 and 都/也, before the verb.
Examples
-
他忙得连饭都没吃。
Tā máng de lián fàn dōu méi chī.
He was so busy he didn’t even eat.
-
这个字连老师也不认识。
Zhège zì lián lǎoshī yě bú rènshi.
Even the teacher doesn’t know this character.
-
我连他的名字都不知道。
Wǒ lián tā de míngzi dōu bù zhīdào.
I don’t even know his name.
-
这件事连孩子都明白。
Zhè jiàn shì lián háizi dōu míngbai.
Even a child understands this.
-
他连一句谢谢也没说。
Tā lián yí jù xièxie yě méi shuō.
He didn’t even say thank you.
Words in these examples (26)
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 忙 | máng | busy | HSK 1 |
| 得 | de | (particle after a verb before a description of how it is done, as in 说得很好) | HSK 2 |
| 连 | lián | even (连…都…) | HSK 4 |
| 饭 | fàn | meal; cooked rice | HSK 1 |
| 都 | dōu | all; both | HSK 1 |
| 吃 | chī | to eat | HSK 1 |
| 这个 | zhège | this one | HSK 1 |
| 字 | zì | character; word (written) | HSK 1 |
| 老师 | lǎoshī | teacher | HSK 1 |
| 也 | yě | also; too | HSK 1 |
| 不 | bù | not; no | HSK 1 |
| 认识 | rènshi | to know (someone); to recognize | HSK 1 |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 的 | de | (particle linking a describer to a noun, like "'s") | HSK 1 |
| 名字 | míngzi | name | HSK 1 |
| 知道 | zhīdào | to know (a fact) | HSK 1 |
| 这 | zhè | this | HSK 1 |
| 件 | jiàn | (measure word for clothes, matters, items) | HSK 1 |
| 事 | shì | matter; thing (to do) | HSK 1 |
| 孩子 | háizi | child | HSK 1 |
| 明白 | míngbai | to understand; clear | HSK 3 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 句 | jù | (measure word for sentences) | HSK 3 |
| 谢谢 | xièxie | thank you | HSK 1 |
| 说 | shuō | to say; to speak | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗我不知道连他的名字。
✓我连他的名字都不知道。
连 + emphasised part comes before 都 and the verb.
-
✗连孩子明白。
✓连孩子都明白。
Keep 都 or 也.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 他 一个字都没写。
2. 这么简单的题，连小学生 会做。
3. 我累得连话 不想说了。