连⋯⋯都⋯⋯ (even)

• Pinyin: lián...dōu
• Formation: 连 + Obj. + 都/也 + (不/没) + Verb
• Hanzi breakdown: 连 = 辶 (movement) + 车 (vehicle) — vehicles linked together; 都 = 者 (one who) + 阝(city)

Meaning

The pattern 连...都... is used to express 'even' in Chinese, emphasizing that something unexpected or extreme applies. It highlights a surprising inclusion or exclusion by focusing on the most unlikely element in a situation.

This is one of the most important emphasis patterns in Chinese. 连 marks the element that is surprising or extreme, and 都 (or 也) completes the emphasis. The pattern can be used affirmatively (连小孩都会 — even children can do it) or negatively (连名字都不知道 — doesn't even know the name). The emphasized element always comes between 连 and 都. While 都 is more common, 也 can replace it with a slightly softer tone. This pattern differs from the verb-repeating construction (连看都不看) because here the object, not the verb, is the focus of emphasis. It is widely used in both spoken and written Chinese.

Examples

1. 这道题连小学生都会做。 Even elementary school students can do this problem.
2. 他连自己的名字都写错了。 He even wrote his own name wrong.
3. 她忙得连饭都没时间吃。 She's so busy she doesn't even have time to eat.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 这个地方连出租车都很难打到。
• 今天的考试太难了，连学霸都觉得头疼。
• 他连最基本的礼貌都不懂。

Don't Say

• 连都他不会游泳。(The emphasized element must appear between 连 and 都, not after 都) → 连他都不会游泳。
• 他都连这个字不认识。(连 must come before the emphasized element — 都 follows it, not the other way around) → 他连这个字都不认识。

Origin & History

连 originally meant 'to connect' or 'to link,' referring to things in succession. Its emphatic use meaning 'even' developed from the idea of including everything in a chain — even the most extreme or unlikely element is connected.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal