连…都/也…: even X does Y
The 连…都/也… pattern picks out an extreme case to show that the statement applies to everything else too, meaning even. The item goes after 连, then 都 or 也 (slightly softer) comes before the verb.
Structure: 连 + [extreme item] + 都/也 + Verb phrase
> 连小孩子都知道这件事。(Even children know this.)
都 vs 也: interchangeable in most cases; 也 is slightly softer.
Negation: 连 + [item] + 都/也 + 不/没 + V
> 连饭都没吃就走了。(Left without even eating.)
Note: 连 must precede the highlighted noun; 都/也 precede the verb. Nothing else can go between 连-item and 都/也.
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 他忙得连饭都没时间吃。 | Tā máng de lián fàn dōu méi shíjiān chī. | He was so busy he didn't even have time to eat. | 连 highlights 饭 (a basic need); 都没 = even … not |
| 这件事连老师也不知道答案。 | Zhè jiàn shì lián lǎoshī yě bù zhīdào dá'àn. | Even the teacher doesn't know the answer to this. | 连…也 variant; 老师 is the extreme case |
| 她学语言学得很快，连发音都几乎没有外国口音。 | Tā xué yǔyán xué de hěn kuài, lián fāyīn dōu jīhū méiyǒu wàiguó kǒuyīn. | She picks up languages quickly — even her pronunciation has almost no foreign accent. | 连 fronts the hardest-to-achieve item (pronunciation) to intensify the praise |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
连 (lián)
Picks out an extreme case that is included in what the sentence says.
Structure: 连 + extreme item + 都/也 + verb phrase
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他太累了，连鞋都没脱就睡了。 | Tā tài lèi le, lián xié dōu méi tuō jiù shuì le. | He was so tired that he went to sleep without even taking off his shoes. |
| 这个问题连孩子也能回答。 | Zhè gè wèn tí lián hái zi yě néng huí dá. | Even a child can answer this question. |
| 她连一个汉字都不认识。 | Tā lián yí gè hàn zì dōu bú rèn shi. | She does not know even one character. |
Not: 连他不知道。 连 needs 都 or 也 after the item: 连他都不知道.
都 (dōu)
Comes after the 连 item and before the verb, completing the pattern.
Structure: 连 + item + 都 + verb phrase
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 连我妈妈都觉得这个电影很好看。 | Lián wǒ mā ma dōu jué de zhè gè diàn yǐng hěn hǎo kàn. | Even my mother thinks this film is good. |
| 他连自己的名字都写错了。 | Tā lián zì jǐ de míng zì dōu xiě cuò le. | He even wrote his own name wrong. |
| 昨天太忙，我连水都没喝。 | Zuó tiān tài máng, wǒ lián shuǐ dōu méi hē. | Yesterday was so busy I did not even drink water. |
Not: 连饭吃都没吃。 都 sits between the item and the verb: 连饭都没吃.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 1, adverbs (范围副词); level 2, adverbs (语气副词); level 4, complex sentences (条件复句); level 7-9, simple complex sentences (递进复句).
都 is also explained in: Scope Adverbs: 都 and 也 (HSK 1) · 无论/不管…都…: regardless of (HSK 4).
也 (yě)
Does the same job as 都 in the pattern, in a slightly softer tone.
Structure: 连 + item + 也 + verb phrase
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这个字连老师也不会写。 | Zhè gè zì lián lǎo shī yě bú huì xiě. | Even the teacher cannot write this character. |
| 他连一句话也没说就走了。 | Tā lián yí jù huà yě méi shuō jiù zǒu le. | He left without saying a single word. |
| 我连一分钟也不想等。 | Wǒ lián yì fēn zhōng yě bù xiǎng děng. | I do not want to wait even a minute. |
Not: 连我都也不知道。 Use only one of 都 and 也: 连我都不知道 or 连我也不知道.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 1, adverbs (关联副词); level 3, fixed patterns.
也 is also explained in: Scope Adverbs: 都 and 也 (HSK 1) · 就是…也…: even if…still (HSK 4).
Compared side by side: 连…都 vs 连…也.
What this opens up
These patterns list 连…都/也… among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
Questions about 连…都/也…
What does 连…都/也… mean in Chinese?
The 连…都/也… pattern picks out an extreme case to show that the statement applies to everything else too, meaning even. The item goes after 连, then 都 or 也 (slightly softer) comes before the verb. It is an HSK 4 grammar point.
How do you use 连…都/也… in a sentence?
他忙得连饭都没时间吃。 — Tā máng de lián fàn dōu méi shíjiān chī. — He was so busy he didn't even have time to eat. 连 highlights 饭 (a basic need); 都没 = even … not.
Where does 连…都/也… come in the HSK sequence?
HSK 4, and none of its prerequisites are grammar points — nothing else on this reference has to come first, so you can start here.
What does 连…都/也… lead to?
Emphasis Patterns (HSK 5), Key HSK-4 patterns (HSK 4). Each of them names 连…都/也… among its own prerequisites.
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.
连…都/也… is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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