连…也不/没…

HSK 6

Emphasis

Structure (结构 jiégòu)

连Emphasized object也/都不/没Verb

Meaning (意思 yìsi)

The structure 连…也不/没… is used to emphasize negation, meaning 'not even...'.

Explanation (解释 jiěshì)

This structure is used to emphasize negation. Use it when you want to say that even the most basic, easy, or obvious thing does not happen or is not true.

Use 也不 for situations that are habitual, recurring, or describe a general state.
Use 也没 to negate a specific action that did not occur in the past (similar to 没有).

The object following 连 is the element you want to emphasize as "to such a degree that even … not …".

Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)

他连我的名字也不知道。
繁: 他連我的名字也不知道。Tā lián wǒ de míngzi yě bù zhīdào.
He doesn't even know my name.
我太忙了，连饭也没吃。
繁: 我太忙了，連飯也沒吃。Wǒ tài máng le, lián fàn yě méi chī.
I am too busy; I haven't even eaten yet.
他病得很重，连水也不喝。
繁: 他病得很重，連水也不喝。Tā bìng de hěn zhòng, lián shuǐ yě bù hē.
He is so seriously ill that he won't even drink water.
他走得太急，连再见也没说。
繁: 他走得太急，連再見也沒說。Tā zǒu de tài jí, lián zàijiàn yě méi shuō.
He left in such a hurry that he didn't even say goodbye.
这个孩子连功课也不做。
繁: 這個孩子連功課也不做。Zhège háizi lián gōngkè yě bù zuò.
This child doesn't even do homework.

Common mistakes

Wrong:他我的名字也不知道连。
Correct:他连我的名字也不知道。
连 must stand immediately before the object being emphasized (here 'my name').
Wrong:我昨天连饭没吃。
Correct:我昨天连饭也没吃。
In this structure, 连 and 也/都 form a pair; 也/都 cannot be omitted.