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HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 5+ 7 min read

Even Emphasis with 连...都

Use 连...都 to make advanced emphasis sentences precise and natural.

Pattern

连 + surprising item + 都/也 + predicate

Emphasize a point by naming the surprising included case.

连最基本的问题他都没回答。

When to use Even Emphasis with 连...都

连 marks the included item that makes the statement surprising. 都 or 也 completes the emphasis in the predicate.

这件事连老师也不太清楚。

Even the teacher is not very clear about this matter.

连平时很安静的人都笑了。

Even people who are usually quiet laughed.

他忙得连午饭都没吃。

He was so busy that he did not even eat lunch.

连简单的例子也要认真检查。

Even simple examples need to be checked carefully.

Common traps

  • 连 needs 都 or 也 later in the sentence.
  • The item after 连 should feel noteworthy or surprising.
  • Do not use 连 for an ordinary list item with no emphasis.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

最基本的问题他都没回答。

Missing grammar piece
Meanings
even; including