递进强调 · HSK 4 (new at this level)
HSK 4 Pattern: 连…都/也…
Emphasizes that EVEN the most unlikely or extreme case is true, implying everything else is even more so.
连 + extreme case + 都/也 + verb
Examples / 例句
他连自己的名字都不会写。
Tā lián zìjǐ de míngzì dōu bú huì xiě.
He can't even write his own name.
Name = easiest thing, so everything else is implied impossible
这道题连老师都不会做。
Zhè dào tí lián lǎoshī dōu bú huì zuò.
Even the teacher can't solve this problem.
Teacher = most capable person, emphasizing extreme difficulty
她忙得连吃饭的时间都没有。
Tā máng de lián chīfàn de shíjiān dōu méiyǒu.
She's so busy she doesn't even have time to eat.
Eating = basic necessity, emphasizing extreme busyness
这个城市发展太快了，连住了很多年的人都常常找不到回家的路。
Zhège chéngshì fāzhǎn tài kuài le, lián zhù le hěn duō nián de rén dōu chángcháng zhǎo bú dào huí jiā de lù.
This city is developing so fast that even people who've lived here for many years often can't find their way home.
住了很多年的人 = those most familiar — emphasizes the scale of change. Common HSK 4 reading topic
他对那段历史很熟悉，连小细节也记得清清楚楚。
Tā duì nà duàn lìshǐ hěn shúxī, lián xiǎo xìjié yě jìde qīngqīngchǔchǔ.
He knows that period of history so well that even small details are crystal clear in his memory.
小细节 = least notable, showcasing mastery — HSK 4 描述人物 frame
Common Errors / 常见错误
✗ 连他很聪明都不会做。
✓ 连他都不会做。/ 他那么聪明都不会做。
连 directly precedes the emphasized element (him), not a full clause. Put 连 right before the noun/pronoun.
✗ 他连不会做这道题。
✓ 他连这道题都不会做。
Must have 都/也 after the emphasized element. 连…都/也 is a fixed frame.
Easily confused: 连…都 is stronger emphasis than just using 也 or 都 alone.
See comparison →
Fill in the Blank / 填空练习
Complete each sentence using this pattern. Type the missing word(s) and press Enter.
他自己的名字___不会写。
她忙得吃饭的时间___没有。
老师都解决不了这个问题。
Quick Quiz / 小测验
这个字太难了，___老师___不认识。
Emphasizing extreme case (even the teacher) → 连…都.
他累得___话___不想说了。
So tired that even talking is too much → 连…都.
这件事___小孩子___知道。
Even children know (easiest/most basic case) → 连…都.
HSK 4 Mock Test Questions Using 连…都/也… / 真题示例
2 real HSK 4 questions from our mock exams that test this pattern:
From HSK 4 Mock Test 02 · Q84
84. 科学技术的发展确实给生活带来了许多方便，但也给我们增加了不少烦恼。最普遍的是，每个现代人头脑中都要记住很多密码：信用卡需要密码，电脑需要密码，电子信箱需要密码，有时候甚至连开门都需要密码。如果谁不小心忘记了这些密码，那麻烦可就大了。人们需要记住什么？
A 友谊B 答案C 密码 ✓D 号码
From HSK 4 Mock Test 02 · Q85
85. 科学技术的发展确实给生活带来了许多方便，但也给我们增加了不少烦恼。最普遍的是，每个现代人头脑中都要记住很多密码：信用卡需要密码，电脑需要密码，电子信箱需要密码，有时候甚至连开门都需要密码。如果谁不小心忘记了这些密码，那麻烦可就大了。给人们带来烦恼的是：
A 科学技术 ✓B 电子信箱C 工作压力D 环境污染
连…都/也… FAQ
When is 连…都/也… tested in HSK 4?
连…都/也… (Even... (emphasis)) appears in HSK 4 reading comprehension (Q66-85) when texts use complex sentences, in 阅读排序 (Q56-65) where this pattern's connectors signal sentence order, and in listening 段落 (Q26-45) where the speaker uses it to express emphasizes that even the most unlikely or extreme case is true, implying everything else is even more so.
What's the most common mistake with 连…都/也…?
连…都 is stronger emphasis than just using 也 or 都 alone.
Is 连…都/也… required at HSK 4 or higher?
HSK 4 (new at this level)