连...也/都... (lián...yě/dōu) in Chinese
连…也/都…
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.
Published July 17, 2026
Reviewed July 17, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
连 + Extreme Focus + 也/都 + Predicate
Read the structure
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. Keep the model 连 + Extreme Focus + 也/都 + Predicate visible while you compare each sentence.
连老师也不知道答案。
Even the teacher does not know the answer.
Choose the right context
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。
他忙得连饭都没时间吃。
He is so busy that he does not even have time to eat.
Respect the boundary
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.
老师连也不知道答案。
(Even the teacher does not know the answer.)
Repair the pattern
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. 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.
连老师也不知道答案。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
连老师也不知道答案。
Even the teacher does not know the answer.
连
连
This part occupies the 连 position in the model pattern.
老师
Extreme Focus
This part occupies the Extreme Focus position in the model pattern.
也
也/都
This part occupies the 也/都 position in the model pattern.
不知道
Predicate
This part occupies the Predicate position in the model pattern.
答案
连
This part occupies the 连 position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
连老师也不知道答案。
Even the teacher does not know the answer.
他忙得连饭都没时间吃。
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。
Even a child can write such a simple character.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
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。
Do not 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.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
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.
老师连也不知道答案。
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。
Put 也 before the predicate: 连小孩子也知道这个道理。
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 连…也/都….
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 连…也/都…. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
连...也/都... (lián...yě/dōu) Questions
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.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Construction index and function chapters relevant to 连…也/都…
Supports the learner-facing account of where 连…也/都… appears and what communicative job it performs.
Official sourceChinese: A Comprehensive Grammar, 2nd ed.
Yip and Rimmington · Routledge · 2016
Locator: Relevant sentence and clause chapters for 连…也/都…
Cross-checks the 连 + Extreme Focus + 也/都 + Predicate pattern, clause relationship, and limits represented by the reviewed examples.
Official sourceChinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 4 grammar inventory
Supports directory placement at HSK 4; it does not independently prove usage rules.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
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Easy to confuse
这/那也不X，那/这也不Y这也不X，那也不Y
Separate emphatic inclusion from the colloquial rejection of alternatives through repeated 也不.
Compare
别说…连…也/都Climactic Concession with 别说…连…也/都
Contrast emphatic inclusion with the a-fortiori formula introduced by 不必说.
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