Table of Contents

Grammar Point

連连 lián … 都 dōu …: Even

Use 連 lián连 lián…都 dōu… to say “even.” Put the most surprising or extreme example between them: “even a kid knows,” “not even one dollar.” It adds a lot of feeling to a sentence, and you’ll hear it all the time in everyday Chinese.

一 The Basic Pattern

连 + Noun + 都 / 也 + Verb

連 lián连 lián goes right before the surprising thing, and 都 dōu (or 也 yě) goes right after it, before the verb. The noun can be the subject (the one doing the action) or the object (the thing the action is done to).

连lián小孩xiǎohái都dōu知道zhīdào这zhè件jiàn事shì

Even kids know about this.

Here the surprising part is the subject: kids.

这zhè个ge问题wèntí太tài简单jiǎndān了le，连lián我wǒ都dōu会huì

This question is so easy, even I can do it.

他tā连lián老师lǎoshī的de名字míngzi都dōu忘了wàngle

He even forgot the teacher’s name.

Here the surprising part is the object: the teacher’s name. The object moves up in front of the verb.

我wǒ忙máng得de连lián吃饭chīfàn的de时间shíjiān都dōu没有méiyǒu

I’m so busy I don’t even have time to eat.

我wǒ奶奶nǎinai连lián网购wǎnggòu也yě会huì

My grandma even knows how to shop online.

也 yě works just like 都 dōu here.

Convenience stores can do everythingIn Taiwan, convenience stores are open 24/7 and are on almost every corner. You can buy snacks and coffee, of course, but 连交停车费都可以 lián jiāo tíngchēfèi dōu kěyǐ (you can even pay parking fees there!). You can also pay your bills, pick up packages, print documents, and even buy train tickets. Basically, if you need something done, try 7-Eleven first! 🏪

二 Not Even One

连 + 一 + Measure Word + Noun + 都 / 也 + 不 / 没

Put 一 yī (“one”) after 連 lián连 lián in a negative sentence to mean “not even one.” This is one of the most common ways to use the pattern.

我wǒ连lián一yí块kuài钱qián都dōu没有méiyǒu

I don’t even have one dollar.

他tā连lián一yí句jù中文Zhōngwén都dōu不bú会huì说shuō

He can’t speak even a single sentence of Chinese.

冰箱bīngxiāng里li连lián一yì颗kē蛋dàn也yě没有méiyǒu

There isn’t even one egg in the fridge.

他tā连lián一yí次cì都dōu没méi来lái过guò

He hasn’t come even once.

三 Didn’t Even (Do It)

连 + Verb + 都 / 也 + 不 / 没 + Verb

You can also put a verb between 連 lián连 lián and 都 dōu, then say the same verb again in the negative. It means “didn’t even (do it).”

他tā连lián看kàn都dōu没méi看kàn，就jiù走zǒu了le

He left without even looking.

这zhè道dào菜cài他tā连lián吃chī都dōu没méi吃chī，就jiù说shuō难吃nánchī

He said this dish tastes bad without even trying it.

那nà么me贵guì的de房子fángzi，我wǒ连lián想xiǎng都dōu不bù敢gǎn想xiǎng

A house that expensive? I don’t even dare to dream about it.

四 Compare with English

English puts “even” right before the surprising word. Chinese wraps the surprising word with 連 lián连 lián in front and 都 dōu behind, and everything moves before the verb.

English

He forgot even my name.

“Even” + the surprising thing, after the verb.

Chinese

他tā连lián我的wǒde名字míngzi都dōu忘了wàngle

連 + the surprising thing + 都, all before the verb.

都 or 也?都 dōu and 也 yě are usually interchangeable in this pattern. In negative sentences, 也 yě is slightly more common in speech, but both are fine.

五 Common Mistakes

❌ 連lián连lián小孩xiǎohái知道zhīdào

✅ 連lián连lián小孩xiǎohái都dōu知道zhīdào

連 lián连 lián can’t work alone. It needs 都 dōu or 也 yě after the surprising word.

❌ 他tā忘了wàngle連lián连lián我的wǒde名字míngzi

✅ 他tā連lián连lián我的wǒde名字míngzi都dōu忘了wàngle

Don’t follow English word order. The whole 連 lián连 lián…都 dōu part goes before the verb.

❌ 我wǒ連lián连lián一yí塊kuài块kuài錢qián钱qián都dōu不bù有yǒu

✅ 我wǒ連lián连lián一yí塊kuài块kuài錢qián钱qián都dōu沒有méiyǒu没有méiyǒu

有 yǒu is always negated with 沒 méi没 méi, even in this pattern.

六 Practice

Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!

Question 1 of 10

“Even my grandpa uses a smartphone.”