HSK 4
连...也/都... (lián...yě/dōu) in Chinese
连...也/都... highlights an unexpected or extreme member of a scale and says the predicate applies even to that member. 连 comes directly before the focused noun, phrase, or action, while 也 or 都 appears before the predicate. The construction can strengthen affirmative or negative statements, depending on context.
STRUCTURE
连 + Extreme Focus + 也/都 + Predicate
When to use 连…也/都… — and when not
Use it when
- To highlight an unexpected person: 连老师也不知道答案。
- To emphasize a very small amount: 他忙得连饭都没时间吃。
- To focus an action or object: 这么简单的字，连小孩子都会写。
Don't use it when
- For an ordinary inclusive list with no extreme or unexpected focus; plain 也 or 都 may be enough.
- Do not separate 连 from the item it focuses by placing that item earlier in the clause.
- Do not put 也 or 都 after the predicate; it normally stands before the predicate it scopes over.
Right vs. wrong
老师连也不知道答案。
连老师也不知道答案。
连 is placed after the item intended as its focus
If 老师 is the unexpected focused person, 连 must come directly before 老师, followed by 也 before the predicate.
连小孩子知道也这个道理。
连小孩子也知道这个道理。
也 is placed after the predicate
也 belongs before the predicate 知道. The order is 连 + 小孩子 + 也 + 知道 + 这个道理.
Examples
连老师也不知道答案。
Lián lǎoshī yě bù zhīdào dá'àn.
Even the teacher does not know the answer.
他忙得连饭都没时间吃。
Tā máng de lián fàn dōu méi shíjiān chī.
He is so busy that he does not even have time to eat.
这么简单的字，连小孩子都会写。
Zhème jiǎndān de zì, lián xiǎoháizi dōu huì xiě.
Even a child can write such a simple character.
Common mistakes
老师连也不知道答案。
Lǎoshī lián yě bù zhīdào dá'àn.
Put 连 directly before the focused item: 连老师也不知道答案。
连小孩子知道也这个道理。
Lián xiǎoháizi zhīdào yě zhège dàolǐ.
Put 也 before the predicate: 连小孩子也知道这个道理。
Think you've got it?
Write your own 连…也/都… sentence and check that grammar point first.
连...也/都... (lián...yě/dōu) FAQ
What does 连 focus in 连...也/都...?
连 focuses the item immediately after it and presents that item as unexpected or extreme. Moving 连 changes the focus and may change the meaning.
What is the difference between 也 and 都 in this pattern?
Both can mark that the predicate applies even to the focused case. 都 can add a stronger inclusive sense, while 也 often highlights addition; many contexts allow either.