Level 4 · Upper Intermediate
Even: 甚至
…，甚至 + Extreme case / 甚至连 + X + 都 · Traditional: …，甚至 + Extreme case / 甚至連 + X + 都
甚至 (shènzhì) escalates to the extreme case: 他走的时候，甚至没说再见 "when he left, he didn't even say goodbye". Whatever follows 甚至 is the part that should surprise you — the list has been climbing, and this is the top.
It loves teaming up with 连…都: 他忙得甚至连饭都忘了吃 "he's so busy he even forgot to eat". Unlike 连, though, 甚至 can also stack whole verb phrases: 他会听，会说，甚至会写 "he can listen, speak — even write".
Examples
他走的时候，甚至没说再见。
他走的時候，甚至沒說再見。
tā zǒu de shí hou shèn zhì méi shuō zài jiàn
When he left, he didn't even say goodbye.
他会听，会说，甚至会写。
他會聽，會說，甚至會寫。
tā huì tīng huì shuō shèn zhì huì xiě
He can listen, speak — even write.
他忙得甚至连饭都忘了吃。
他忙得甚至連飯都忘了吃。
tā máng de shèn zhì lián fàn dōu wàng le chī
He's so busy he even forgot to eat.
这个问题很简单，甚至孩子都会。
這個問題很簡單，甚至孩子都會。
zhè ge wèn tí hěn jiǎn dān shèn zhì hái zi dū huì
This question is so easy even a child can do it.
Common mistakes
✗ 甚至连他不知道这件事。
✓ 甚至连他都不知道这件事。
With 甚至连, the partner 都/也 before the verb is still required.
Related grammar points
See it in a story
Read this pattern in context: The Space Pen · The Origin of Airbnb · The McGriddle — free graded stories with tap-to-reveal pinyin and translations.
