Basic/Simple Sentence Patterns 2(B1 / HSK3)

"B1" (Intermediate) is the third level as defined by the European Common Framework. It is roughly equivalent to HSK Levels 3-4.Expressing "even" with "lian" and "dou"

連⋯⋯都⋯⋯ (lián... dōu...) is used similarly to how "even" is used in English and can emphasize certain surprising pieces of information. The tricky part about using it is that you have to remember to use both parts of the pattern (rather than just throwing in one word, like "even" in English).

Used Before the SubjectStructure

連 + Subj. + 都 (+ 不 / 沒) + Verb

Sometimes 也 (yě) is used instead of 都 (dōu), and the two are interchangeable for this pattern, but 都 is more commonly used with 連 (lián), so it's the one we'll use exclusively here.

Examples

這個 問題 太 簡單 了 ，連 三歲 小孩 都 知道 。Zhège wèntí tài jiǎndān le, lián sān suì xiǎohái dōu zhīdào.This question is so easy that even a three-year-old kid knows the answer.

這個 漢字 太 難 了 ，連 我 的 中文 老師 都 不 認識 。Zhège Hànzì tài nán le, lián wǒ de Zhōngwén lǎoshī dōubù rènshi.This Chinese character is so difficult that even my Chinese teacher doesn't know it.

他 很可憐 ，連 他 媽媽 都 不 管 他 。Tā hěn kělián, lián tā māma dōu bù guǎn tā.The poor child. Even his mother doesn't care about him.

她 什麼 都 放 辣 ，連 湯 都 是 辣的 。Tā shénme dōu fàng là, lián tāng dōu shì là de.She put spice in everything. Even the soup is spicy.

你們 算 什麼 好朋友 ？他 連 結婚 都 沒 請 你 。Nǐmen suàn shénme hǎo péngyou, tā lián jiéhūn dōu méi qǐng nǐ.What kind of "good friend" are you to him? He didn't even invite you to his wedding.

Note that 都 can't be omitted in any of these sentences. You really need both parts of the pattern.

這個 問題 太 簡單 了 ，連 三歲 小孩 知道 。Zhège wèntí tài jiǎndān le, lián sān suì xiǎohái zhīdào.

你們 算 什麼 好朋友 ？他 連 結婚 沒 請 你 。Nǐmen suàn shénme hǎo péngyou? Tā lián jiéhūn méi qǐng nǐ.

Used Before the Object

Note that for this pattern, the object moves to the front of the sentence instead of coming after the verb as it normally does. After you move the object to the front of the sentence, you can use 連 before the object and 都 before the verb or verb phrase.

Structure

連 + Obj. + 都 (+ 不 / 沒) + Verb

Examples

他 什麼 都 吃，連 狗肉 都 吃 。Tā shénme dōu chī, lián gǒu ròu dōu chī.He eats everything, even dog meat.

你 連 你 最好 的 朋友 都 不 相信 ？Nǐ lián nǐ zuìhǎo de péngyou dōu bù xiāngxìn?You don't even trust your best friend?

你 連 麥當勞 都 吃 不起 嗎 ？Nǐ lián Màidāngláo dōu chī bu qǐ ma?You can't even afford a meal at McDonald's?

If the object the comes after 連 is a whole sentence, there must be a specific interrogative pronoun (a "question word") in the sentence.

你 連 她 叫 什麼 都 沒 問 ？Nǐ lián tā jiào shénme dōu méi wèn?You didn't even ask what her name is?

你 怎麼了 ？連 你 住 在 哪兒 都 不 記得 了 ？Nǐ zěnme le? Lián nǐ zhù zàinǎr dōu bù jìde le?Are you OK? You can't even remember where you live?

她 是 你 女朋友 ？你 連 人家 姓 什麼 都 不 知道 。Tā shì nǐ nǚpéngyou? Nǐ lián rénjia xìng shénme dōu bù zhīdào.She's your girlfriend? You don't even know what her last name is.

Avoidance

If you're an intermediate learner and find yourself never using this pattern, you're not alone. That's fairly typical. And the truth is that you can get away with not actively using it for a pretty long time. Eventually you'll get more comfortable with it, but it probably won't come as naturally as some other patterns.

See alsoExpressing "every time" with "mei" and "dou"每次⋯⋯ 都⋯⋯ (měi cì... dōu...) is a pattern used to express "every time." Translating from English, you might feel that the only part really needed is 每次 (měi cì), since it literally means "every time." This is incorrect! Not only is the adverb 都 (dōu) required, but it's arguably more vital than the 每次 (měi cì)! So it's important to get used to using both parts.Structure

This pattern actually builds on the basic 每……都…… pattern, which you should already know. In this grammar structure, we go beyond just saying things like "every person" or "every day," and focus on what happens every time a certain action is done.

每次 + Event 1 + 都 + Event 2

Examples

她 每次 來 我 家 都 帶 花 。Tā měi cì lái wǒ jiā dōu dài huā.She brings flowers every time she visits me.

為什麼 每次 我 來 他 都 不 在 ？Wèishénme měi cì wǒ lái tā dōu bù zài?How come he's not here every time I come?

我 每次 玩 這個 遊戲 都 輸 。Wǒ měi cì wán zhège yóuxì dōu shū.Every time I play this game, I lose.

你 怎麼 每次 吃 火鍋 都 拉肚子 ？Nǐ zěnme měicì chī huǒguō dōu lādùzi?How come you have diarrhea every time you eat hotpot?

他 每次 遲到 都 說 因為 堵車 。Tā měicì chídào dōu shuō yīnwèi dǔchē.Every time he's late, he says it's because of bad traffic.

我 每次 經過 這 家 店 都 會 進去 看看 。Wǒ měi cì jīngguò zhè jiā diàn dōu huì jìnqù kànkan.Every time I pass this shop, I go inside and take a look.

我 妹妹 每次 打針 都 哭 。Wǒ mèimei měicì dǎzhēn dōu kū.My little sister cries every time she has to get a shot.

每次 遇到 生詞 他 都 要 查 字典 。Měi cì yùdào shēngcí tā dōu yào chá zìdiǎn.Every time he comes across a new word, he looks it up in the dictionary.

每次 編輯 都 要 保存 。Měi cì biānjí dōu yào bǎocún.Every time you edit, you need to save it.

爸爸 每次 出差 都 給 我 買 禮物 。Bàba měi cì chūchāi dōu gěi wǒ mǎi lǐwù.Dad buys presents for me every time he goes on business trips.

See alsoExpressing "every" with question wordsThis grammar point is not about how to use 每 (měi) to mean "every," but rather how to combine question words with 都 (dōu) to make words and phrases like "everywhere" or "everyone." You may have learned this same pattern for expressing "everything," but now it's time to extend it."Everyone" with 誰 都

誰 都 (shéi dōu) is a pattern used to express "everyone" (or possibly "anyone") in Chinese. The placement of the question word 誰 is very similar to the way 什麼 (shénme) can be used to express "every", along with other question words like 哪兒 (nǎr) and 多少 (duōshao).

Structure

誰 + 都 + Predicate

The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.

Examples

誰 都 喜歡 美食 。Shéi dōu xǐhuan měishí.Everyone likes delicious food.

誰 都 可以 進 。Shéi dōu kěyǐ jìn.Everyone can come in.

誰 都 不 相信 他 說 的 話 。Shéi dōu bù xiāngxìn tā shuō de huà.No one believes what he said.

"Everywhere" with 哪兒 都

This pattern works with both 哪兒 (nǎr) and 哪裡 (nǎlǐ).

Structure

哪兒 / 哪裡 (+ Verb) + 都 + Predicate

Examples

他 的 房間 裡 哪兒 都 是 髒 衣服 。Tā de fángjiān lǐ nǎr dōu shì zāng yīfu.His dirty laundry is all over his room.

我 太 累 了，哪兒 都 不 想 去 。Wǒ tài lèi le, nǎr dōu bù xiǎng qù.I'm too tired. I don't want to go anywhere.

在 哪裡 見面 都 行 。Zài nǎlǐ jiànmiàn dōu xíng.I'm fine with meeting anywhere.

"Whenever" with 什麼時候 都

什麼時候 (shénme shíhou) combines with 都 (dōu) to mean "whenever" or "anytime."

Structure

什麼時候 (+ Verb) + 都 + Predicate

Examples

什麼 時候 都 可以 。Shénme shíhou dōu kěyǐ.Anytime is fine.

你什麼 時候 來 都 歡迎 。Nǐ shénme shíhou lái dōu huānyíng.You're welcome to come anytime.

什麼 時候 開始 都 不 晚 。Shénme shíhou kāishǐ dōu bù wǎn.It's never too late to start.

"However Much" with 多少 都

多少 (duōshao) also works with 都 in this case.

Structure

Verb + 多少 + 都 + Predicate

Examples

你 想 吃 多少 都 可以 。Nǐ xiǎng chī duōshao dōu kěyǐ.You can eat however much you want.

這些 是 免費 的 ，我們 拿 多少 都 沒 問題 。Zhèxiē shì miǎnfèi de, wǒmen ná duōshao dōu méi wèntí.These are all free. We can take as much as we want.

我 跟 他 說 多少 遍 都 沒有 用 。Wǒ gēn tā shuō duōshao biàn dōu méiyǒu yòng.It doesn't matter how many times I tell him.

"However" with 怎麼 都

怎麼 (zěnme) also works with 都.

Structure

怎麼 + Verb + 都 + Predicate

Examples

怎麼 做 都 可以 嗎 ？Zěnme zuò dōu kěyǐ ma?It's OK if I do it however I want?

這些 錢 你 怎麼 花 都 行 。Zhèxiē qián nǐ zěnme huā dōu xíng.You can spend this money however you like.

別人 怎麼 想 都 不 重要 。Biérén zěnme xiǎng dōu bù zhòngyào.It's not important what other people think.

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