HSK 4 · VERSION 2.0#86
Expressing “Even” with “lián...dōu...”
连……都……
How it works
连……都…… (lián...dōu...) means “even...” It introduces an extreme or surprising case.
The pattern
连 (lián) + Noun / Phrase + 都 (dōu) + Predicate
Example sentences
他太忙了,连饭都没吃。
He was so busy that he did not even eat.
这么简单的问题,连小孩子都会。
Even children can do such a simple problem.
我昨天太累了,连话都不想说。
I was so tired yesterday that I did not even want to talk.
Key point
This pattern strongly emphasizes the unexpectedness of the example.