“Even” in Chinese 1 – 甚至 shènzhì

Grammar Point:
The Chinese word 甚至 shènzhì means “even” or “go so far as to.” It is used to indicate that something is true to a surprising or extreme degree, often used to emphasize a point.

Structure

甚至 shènzhì is commonly used together with 連连 lián…都 dōu/ 也 yě… to emphasize the extent or degree of something.

As an adverb + V, Adj or sentence

我wǒ最近zuìjìn忙máng得de甚至shènzhì連lián飯fàn都dōu沒méi吃chī我wǒ最近zuìjìn忙máng得de甚至shènzhì连lián饭fàn都dōu没méi吃chī
I’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t even had time to eat.

他tā甚至shènzhì不記得bújìdé今天jīntiān是shì我wǒ生日shēngrì他tā甚至shènzhì不记得bújìdé今天jīntiān是shì我wǒ生日shēngrì
He doesn’t even remember that today is my birthday.

我wǒ甚至shènzhì沒有méiyǒu來得及láidejí反應fǎnyìng， 車禍chēhuò就jiù發生fāshēng了le我wǒ甚至shènzhì没有méiyǒu来得及láidejí反应fǎnyìng， 车祸chēhuò就jiù发生fāshēng了le
I didn’t even have time to react, and the car accident happened.

今天jīntiān天氣tiānqì真zhēn熱rè， 有的yǒude地方dìfāng氣溫qìwēn甚至shènzhì到達dàodá40 度dù今天jīntiān天气tiānqì真zhēn热rè， 有的yǒude地方dìfang气温qìwēn甚至shènzhì到达dàodá40 度dù
The weather is really hot today, with temperatures reaching as high as 40 degrees in some places.

失敗shībài後hòu他tā不但búdàn沒有méiyǒu沮喪jǔsàng甚至shènzhì更gèng努力nǔlì了le失败shībài后hòu他tā不但búdàn没有méiyǒu沮丧jǔsàng甚至shènzhì更gèng努力nǔlì了le
After failing, he not only didn’t feel discouraged but even tried harder.

As a conjunction + sentence

他tā很hěn厲害lìhài， 不但búdàn會huì說shuō三sān國guó語言yǔyán， 甚至shènzhì還hái會huì說shuō五wǔ種zhǒng方言fāngyán他tā很hěn厉害lìhai， 不但búdàn会huì说shuō三sān国guó语言yǔyán， 甚至shènzhì还hái会huì说shuō五wǔ种zhǒng方言fāngyán
He is so talented that he can speak not only three languages but also five dialects.

這zhè道dào菜cài很hěn難做nánzuò， 甚至shènzhì專業zhuānyè廚師chúshī都dōu有可能yǒukěnéng失敗shībài这zhè道dào菜cài很hěn难做nánzuò， 甚至shènzhì专业zhuānyè厨师chúshī都dōu有可能yǒukěnéng失败shībài
This dish is so difficult to make that even professional chefs may fail.

我wǒ今天jīntiān腦袋nǎodài空空的kōngkōngde， 甚至shènzhì連lián最zuì簡單的jiǎndānde問題wèntí都dōu答不出來dábùchūlái我wǒ今天jīntiān脑袋nǎodài空空的kōngkōngde， 甚至shènzhì连lián最zuì简单的jiǎndānde问题wèntí都dōu答不出来dábuchūlái
I am so blank today that I can’t even answer the simplest questions.

我wǒ完全wánquán不會búhuì中文zhōngwén， 甚至shènzhì連lián問好wènhǎo怎麼zěnme說shuō我wǒ也yě不知道bùzhīdào我wǒ完全wánquán不会búhuì中文zhōngwén， 甚至shènzhì连lián问好wènhǎo怎么zěnme说shuō我wǒ也yě不知道bùzhīdào
I don’t know any Chinese at all; I don’t even know how to say hello.

他tā覺得juéde人生rénshēng很hěn辛苦xīnkǔ， 甚至shènzhì有yǒu了le想xiǎng死sǐ的de念頭niàntóu他tā觉得juéde人生rénshēng很hěn辛苦xīnkǔ， 甚至shènzhì有yǒu了le想xiǎng死sǐ的de念头niàntou
He finds life so difficult that he even has thoughts of kill himself.

FYI
The suicide rate in Taiwan has been a significant public health issue. According to statistics, Taiwan had a suicide rate of approximately 16.7 per 100,000 people in 2019, which is higher than the global average. The high suicide rate in Taiwan is influenced by several factors. There is stigma around mental health, so people might not seek help. Pressure to succeed in school and work, along with a competitive society, can lead to stress and mental health issues. Social isolation, especially among older people, is also a factor.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ He didn’t even bother to show up for the meeting.

他tā甚至shènzhì沒méi在zài會議huìyì上shàng露面lòumiàn他tā甚至shènzhì没méi在zài会议huìyì上shàng露面lòumiàn

✔️ I can’t believe she didn’t even say goodbye.

我wǒ不敢bùgǎn相信xiāngxìn她tā甚至shènzhì沒méi跟gēn大家dàjiā說shuō再見zàijiàn我wǒ不敢bùgǎn相信xiāngxìn她tā甚至shènzhì没méi跟gēn大家dàjiā说shuō再见zàijiàn

✔️ They argued about the movie for hours, even after it ended.

他們tāmen為wèi這zhè部bù電影diànyǐng吵chǎo了le幾個jǐge小時xiǎoshí， 甚至shènzhì在zài結束jiéshù後hòu還hái繼續jìxù吵chǎo他们tāmen为wèi这zhè部bù电影diànyǐng吵chǎo了le几个jǐge小时xiǎoshí， 甚至shènzhì在zài结束jiéshù后hòu还hái继续jìxù吵chǎo
(Do not finish the sentence with 甚至shènzhì在zài結束jiéshù後hòu甚至shènzhì在zài结束jiéshù后hòu, because that is just a phrase, not a complete sentence.)

• “Even” in Chinese 2 – 連连 lián… 也 yě… (HSK 4)