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HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 6 min read

甚至 for “Even” and 不过 for “However”

Use 甚至 to push a point to its most surprising case, and 不过 to add a soft “but” after a statement.

Pattern

……，甚至 (+ 连) + most extreme case；……，不过 + contrasting point

甚至 climbs to the most surprising case; 不过 turns gently to a “but”.

他太累了，甚至连话都不想说。

When to use 甚至 for “Even” and 不过 for “However”

甚至 means “even”: after one or more points, it adds the most extreme or surprising one. It goes before the verb or before the extreme item, and often pairs with 连……都/也. 不过 means “however, but”: it starts the second clause and adds a contrast or a small reservation to what came before. It is softer and more conversational than 但是.

这首歌很有名，老人、孩子，甚至外国人都会唱。

This song is really famous: old people, kids, even foreigners can sing it.

这件衣服很漂亮，不过有点儿贵。

This top is pretty, but it’s a bit pricey.

我很想去，不过明天要上班。

I’d love to go, but I have work tomorrow.

他学汉语很努力，每天学三个小时，周末甚至学一整天。

He works hard at Chinese: three hours a day, and on weekends even the whole day.

Common traps

  • Put 甚至 before the verb or the extreme item: 他甚至忘了吃饭, not 他忘了甚至吃饭.
  • For a plain extra point use 而且: 这家店很便宜，而且很近, not 这家店很便宜，甚至很近. 甚至 needs a surprising, more extreme case.
  • Don’t put 不过 at the end like English “though”: say 不过有点儿贵, not 有点儿贵不过.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

本想省钱，结果 花得更多

We meant to save money but ended up spending more instead
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