连…都 vs 连…也: what is the difference?
Almost none. 都 is a bit stronger and 也 a bit softer. In a negative sentence both work: 连水都没喝 and 连水也没喝.
| Word | Pinyin | What it does | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 连…都 | lián … dōu | Picks an extreme case and says even that is included, with 都 as the firmer choice. | 连 + item + 都 + Verb phrase |
| 连…也 | lián … yě | Does the same job as 连…都 in a slightly softer tone, and is common in negative sentences. | 连 + item + 也 + Verb phrase |
连…都 (lián … dōu)
Picks an extreme case and says even that is included, with 都 as the firmer choice.
Structure: 连 + item + 都 + Verb phrase
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他忙得连水都忘了喝。 | Tā máng de lián shuǐ dōu wàng le hē. | He was so busy that he forgot even to drink water. |
| 这道题连老师都做不出来。 | Zhè dào tí lián lǎo shī dōu zuò bù chū lái. | Even the teacher cannot do this problem. |
| 他累得连话都不想说。 | Tā lèi de lián huà dōu bù xiǎng shuō. | He was so tired he did not even want to talk. |
Not: 我连饭吃都没吃。 The 连 item comes before 都 and the verb: 我连饭都没吃。
连…也 (lián … yě)
Does the same job as 连…都 in a slightly softer tone, and is common in negative sentences.
Structure: 连 + item + 也 + Verb phrase
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他连再见也没说就走了。 | Tā lián zài jiàn yě méi shuō jiù zǒu le. | He left without even saying goodbye. |
| 我连一分钱也没有了。 | Wǒ lián yì fēn qián yě méi yǒu le. | I do not have even one cent left. |
| 弟弟连自己的名字也不会写。 | Dì di lián zì jǐ de míng zì yě bú huì xiě. | My younger brother cannot even write his own name. |
Not: 我连一口水喝也没有。 Keep the order 连 + item + 也 + verb: 我连一口水也没喝。
Where this comes from
The comparison is part of 连…都/也…: even X does Y (HSK 4) in the grammar reference, which has the full explanation, more worked examples, and what to learn before and after it.
More pairs: 按照 vs 根据 · 不敢 vs 不能 · 及时 vs 立刻 · 记住 vs 记得 · 渐渐 vs 逐渐 · 将近 vs 大约 · 竟然 vs 居然 · 既然 vs 因为 · 看不懂 vs 没看懂 · 了 vs 过 · 没有 vs 不如 · 却 vs 但是 · all 81 pairs.
Frequently asked questions
Is there any difference between 连…都 and 连…也?
Almost none. 都 is a bit stronger and 也 a bit softer. In a negative sentence both work: 连水都没喝 and 连水也没喝.
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