连…都/也: even
连小孩都知道 (even children know), 一点儿也不 (not at all), 一个…也没有 (not a single one).
Part of the free B1 Chinese course (about HSK 4). Examples are in Simplified characters, with pinyin only for some new or hard words; press the speaker to hear one with your device's Chinese voice.
连 + the surprising thing + 都/也
To say even, put 连 (lián) before the surprising person or thing, and 都 (dōu) or 也 (yě) before the verb. 都 or 也 is required; 连 is the part you can sometimes leave out.
- 连小孩都知道。Even children know that.
- 这个字连老师也不认识。Even the teacher doesn't know this character.
If the surprising thing is the object, it moves in front of the verb:
- 我连他的名字都忘了。I've even forgotten his name.
- 他忙得连饭都没吃。He was so busy he didn't even eat.
| 连 + | 都/也 + | Verb phrase |
|---|---|---|
| 连我奶奶 | 都 | 会用手机 |
| 他连一句话 | 也 | 没说 |
都 and 也 both work; in positive sentences 都 is more common.
Not at all: 一点儿也/都不
一点儿也不 + adjective (or 一点儿也没 + verb) = not at all.
- 这个菜一点儿也不辣。This dish isn't spicy at all.
Not a single one: 一 + measure word + noun + 也/都 + 没/不
- 教室里一个人也没有。There isn't a single person in the classroom.
- 我一口都没喝。I didn't drink a drop.
The noun with 一 goes before the verb, just like the object after 连.
连 can drop out when 都 or 也 already makes the point: 他饭都没吃 = He didn't even eat.
Common mistakes
连小孩知道。→ 连小孩都知道。连 needs 都 or 也.我都连他的名字忘了。→ 我连他的名字都忘了。The order is 连 + thing + 都.这个菜不一点儿辣。→ 这个菜一点儿也不辣。我没有一个朋友也。→ 我一个朋友也没有。The 一 + noun moves before 也 + verb.连他知道这件事。→ 连他都知道这件事。Same rule: 连 never works alone.
Practice
- 连我奶奶_____会用手机。Options: 都 · 就 · 才
Show the answer
都 — 连 … 都 (or 也) = even.
- Which sentence means 'He didn't even say goodbye'?Options: 他连再见都没说。 · 他都连再见没说。 · 他连再见没说都。
Show the answer
他连再见都没说。 — 连 + thing + 都 + verb.
- 这本书一点儿_____不难。
Show the answer
也 — 一点儿也不 (or 一点儿都不) = not at all.
- 冰箱里一个鸡蛋_____没有。
Show the answer
也 — 一 + measure word + noun + 也/都 + 没有 = not a single one.