“Even” in Chinese 2 – lián… yě…

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, the structure 連连 lián …也 yě/ 都 dōu… is used to emphasize “even,” highlighting something unexpected or extreme.

Structure

連连 lián + N + 也 yě/ 都 dōu + V

連lián小孩xiǎohái也yě知道zhīdào连lián小孩xiǎohái也yě知道zhīdào
Even children know.

連lián一yì杯bēi水shuǐ也yě沒有méiyǒu连lián一yì杯bēi水shuǐ也yě没有méiyǒu
There isn’t even a glass of water.

他tā連lián早餐zǎocān都dōu沒méi吃chī就jiù去qù上班shàngbān了le他tā连lián早餐zǎocān都dōu没méi吃chī就jiù去qù上班shàngbān了le
He went to work without even having breakfast.

這zhè部bù電影diànyǐng連lián我wǒ奶奶nǎinǎi也yě喜歡xǐhuān看kàn这zhè部bù电影diànyǐng连lián我wǒ奶奶nǎinǎi也yě喜欢xǐhuan看kàn
Even my grandmother likes this movie.

她tā連lián生病shēngbìng也yě要yào去qù上課shàngkè她tā连lián生病shēngbìng也yě要yào去qù上课shàngkè
She goes to class even when she’s sick.

你nǐ連lián這麼zhème簡單jiǎndān的de文法wénfǎ也yě不會búhuì嗎ma你nǐ连lián这么zhème简单jiǎndān的de语法yǔfǎ也yě不会búhuì吗ma
Do you not even understand such simple grammar?

* 連lián看kàn都dōu不看búkàn一眼yìyǎn连lián看kàn都dōu不看búkàn一眼yìyǎn
Won’t even take a look.
(This is a commonly used expression for special cases.)

連连 lián + Clause + 也 yě/ 都 dōu + V

When 連连 lián is followed by a clause, it must contain a Question Word.

連lián他tā為什麼wèishénme生氣shēngqì都dōu不知道bùzhīdào连lián他tā为什么wèishénme生气shēngqì都dōu不知道bùzhīdào
Don’t even know why he’s angry.

連lián去qù哪裡nǎlǐ玩wán都dōu沒méi想xiǎng好hǎo连lián去qù哪里nǎlǐ玩wán都dōu没méi想xiǎng好hǎo
Haven’t even decided where to go.

連lián什麼時候shénmeshíhòu睡著shuìzháo的de都dōu不bú記得jìdé了le连lián什么时候shénmeshíhou睡着shuìzháo的de都dōu不bú记得jìdé了le
Don’t even remember when I fell asleep.

連lián誰shéi是shì老闆lǎobǎn都dōu不bù清楚qīngchǔ连lián谁shéi是shì老板lǎobǎn都dōu不bù清楚qīngchu
Don’t even know who the boss is.

連lián怎麼zěnme開始kāishǐ都dōu不懂bùdǒng连lián怎么zěnme开始kāishǐ都dōu不懂bùdǒng
Don’t even know how to start.

Common Mistakes

她tā連lián生病shēngbìng要yào去qù上課shàngkè她tā连lián生病shēngbìng要yào去qù上课shàngkè ❌
(Missing 都 dōu or 也 yě)

她tā連lián生病shēngbìng也yě要yào去qù上課shàngkè她tā连lián生病shēngbìng也yě要yào去qù上课shàngkè ✅
She goes to class even when she’s sick.

連lián要yào買mǎi東西dōngxī也yě忘了wàngle连lián要yào买mǎi东西dōngxi也yě忘了wàngle ❌
(Missing question word)

連lián要yào買mǎi什麼shénme東西dōngxī也yě忘了wàngle连lián要yào买mǎi什么shénme东西dōngxi也yě忘了wàngle ✅
Even forgot what to buy.

• “Even” in Chinese 1 – 甚至 shènzhì (HSK 4)