甚至
HSK 4- Emphasis
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
The adverb 甚至 is used to emphasize an extreme or unexpected example, meaning 'even', 'to the point that'.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
Use 甚至 (even, to the point of) to introduce a striking example — typically surprising or extreme — in order to emphasize the point made in the preceding clause. It indicates that something has progressed to an even greater degree. 甚至 often pairs with 都 or 也 in the following clause to reinforce the tone.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 他忙得甚至没时间吃饭。繁: 他忙得甚至沒時間吃飯。Tā máng de shènzhì méi shíjiān chīfàn.
He was so busy that he didn't even have time to eat.
- 这个问题太难了，甚至老师都不会。繁: 這個問題太難了，甚至老師都不會。Zhège wèntí tài nán le, shènzhì lǎoshī dōu bú huì.
This problem is too difficult; even the teacher doesn't know how to do it.
- 他忘了这件事，甚至不记得我们见过面。繁: 他忘了這件事，甚至不記得我們見過面。Tā wàng le zhè jiàn shì, shènzhì bù jìde wǒmen jiàn guò miàn.
He forgot about this matter, and even doesn't remember that we have met before.
- 为了学好中文，他甚至去了中国。繁: 為了學好中文，他甚至去了中國。Wèile xué hǎo Zhōngwén, tā shènzhì qù le Zhōngguó.
To study Chinese well, he even went to China.
- 这里很安静，甚至能听到心跳声。繁: 這裡很安靜，甚至能聽到心跳聲。Zhèlǐ hěn ānjìng, shènzhì néng tīngdào xīntiào shēng.
It is very quiet here; you can even hear the sound of your heartbeat.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:他很累，睡觉甚至。Correct:他很累，甚至不想说话。
甚至 must precede the emphasized part (verb, phrase) and cannot stand at the end of a sentence like an independent adverb.
- Wrong:我喜欢水果，甚至苹果。Correct:我喜欢各种水果，甚至连榴莲都喜欢。
甚至 is used to emphasize an extreme or surprising example, not to list similar things.