Chinese Grammar Bank
INTRODUCTION
甚至 (shènzhì) is used to emphasize something surprising or unexpected in a list or sequence, similar to “even” in English.
It highlights the most extreme or noteworthy item
BASIC USE OF 甚至
In simple sentences, 甚至 introduces the extreme or unexpected part of the statement. It often follows a series or context where the last item is surprising.
PATTERN
…，甚至…
It is used to highlight the most extreme item in a list.
他很忙，甚至没有时间吃饭。
He is so busy that he even has no time to eat.View More Examples:
| 她的画得到了全国，甚至国际上的认可。 | Tā de huà dédàole quánguó, shènzhì guójì shàng de rènkě. | Her paintings are recognized nationwide, even internationally. |
| 他每天工作十个小时，甚至更多。 | Tā měitiān gōngzuò shí gè xiǎoshí, shènzhì gèng duō. | He works ten hours a day, even more. |
| 他学得特别快，甚至超过了老师的期望。 | Tā xué dé tèbié kuài, shènzhì chāoguòle lǎoshī de qīwàng. | He learns so fast that he even exceeded the teacher’s expectations. |
| 小明很聪明，甚至能自己修电脑。 | Xiǎomíng hěn cōngmíng, shènzhì néng zìjǐ xiū diànnǎo. | Xiao Ming is so smart that he can even repair computers himself. |
| 这个地方很冷，甚至夏天也要穿外套。 | Zhège dìfāng hěn lěng, shènzhì xiàtiān yě yào chuān wàitào. | This place is so cold that you even need to wear a jacket in summer. |
| 他对她很好，甚至给她买了一辆车。 | Tā duì tā hěn hǎo, shènzhì gěi tā mǎile yī liàng chē. | He treats her so well that he even bought her a car. |
| 这篇文章写得很好，甚至堪称是经典。 | Zhè piān wénzhāng xiě dé hěn hǎo, shènzhì kānchēng shì jīngdiǎn. | This article is so well-written that it can even be called a classic. |
甚至 WITH VERBS
甚至 can be used with verbs to emphasize extreme actions.
PATTERN
甚至 + [Verb Phrase]
- The verb phrase after 甚至 highlights an unexpected or extreme action.
他太累了，甚至在地铁上睡着了。
He was so tired that he even fell asleep on the subway.View More Examples:
| 她忘记了重要的事，甚至连钥匙都忘了带。 | Tā wàngjìle zhòngyào de shì, shènzhì lián yàoshi dōu wàngle dài. | She forgot something important, even forgetting her keys. |
| 这道菜太辣了，甚至他也吃不了。 | Zhè dào cài tài là le, shènzhì tā yě chī bù liǎo. | This dish is so spicy that even he couldn’t eat it. |
| 他很激动，甚至跳了起来。 | Tā hěn jīdòng, shènzhì tiàole qǐlái. | He was so excited that he even jumped up. |
| 她喜欢书，甚至每天都要读一本。 | Tā xǐhuān shū, shènzhì měitiān dōu yào dú yī běn. | She loves books so much that she even reads one every day. |
| 那个人很吵，甚至吵醒了邻居。 | Nàgè rén hěn chǎo, shènzhì chǎo xǐngle línjū. | That person was so loud that he even woke up the neighbors. |
| 他跑得太快了，甚至甩掉了对手。 | Tā pǎo dé tài kuài le, shènzhì shuǎi diàole duìshǒu. | He ran so fast that he even left his opponents behind. |
| 她太高兴了，甚至哭了出来。 | Tā tài gāoxìng le, shènzhì kū le chūlái. | She was so happy that she even cried. |
甚至 WITH 连…都/也
Using 甚至 with 连…都/也 adds more emphasis to the extremity.
PATTERN
甚至连 + [Noun/Pronoun] + 都/也 + [Verb]
- 连（Meaning: Even.） introduces the emphasized item, followed by 都/也（Meaning: Even so, still, or also.）.
- This structure is a variation from the structure 甚至 + Verb Phrase. In most cases, we can express the same meaning in both structures.
For example: 他太穷了， 甚至买不起手机 can be also said as 他太穷了，甚至连手机都买不起。
In the first sentence, the action is 买不起手机 （can’t afford a phone); in the second sentence, the part “手机” （a phone）the part 买不起 (can‘t afford) are further emphasised by the structure 甚至连 + Noun/Pronoun + 都/也 + Verb.
他太穷了，甚至连手机都买不起。
He is so poor that he can’t even afford a phone.View More Examples:
| 她很忙，甚至连饭都顾不上吃。 | Tā hěn máng, shènzhì lián fàn dōu gùbùshàng chī. | She is so busy that she can’t even manage to eat. |
| 他很累，甚至连话都不想说了。 | Tā hěn lèi, shènzhì lián huà dōu bù xiǎng shuō le. | He is so tired that he doesn’t even want to talk. |
| 他们太专注了，甚至连老师都没注意到。 | Tāmen tài zhuānzhù le, shènzhì lián lǎoshī dōu méi zhùyì dào. | They were so focused that they didn’t even notice the teacher. |
| 她太慌了，甚至连书包都忘了拿。 | Tā tài huāng le, shènzhì lián shūbāo dōu wàngle ná. | She was so flustered that she even forgot her bag. |
| 这个问题太简单了，甚至连小孩子都能回答。 | Zhège wèntí tài jiǎndān le, shènzhì lián xiǎoháizi dōu néng huídá. | This question is so simple that even children can answer it. |
| 他很冷，甚至连门都不想出。 | Tā hěn lěng, shènzhì lián mén dōu bù xiǎng chū. | He is so cold that he doesn’t even want to leave the house. |
| 这家餐厅太好吃了，甚至连挑剔的人都喜欢。 | Zhè jiā cāntīng tài hào chī le, shènzhì lián tiāotì de rén dōu xǐhuān. | This restaurant is so good that even picky people like it. |
COMPLEX SENTENCES WITH 甚至
In complex sentences, 甚至 is used to connect clauses, showing the surprising or extreme consequence.
PATTERN
[Clause 1], 甚至 [Clause 2]
- The second clause introduces the extreme result.
他努力工作，甚至放弃了假期。
He worked so hard that he even gave up his vacation.View More Examples:
| 天气太糟了，甚至连飞机都取消了。 | Tiānqì tài zāo le, shènzhì lián fēijī dōu qǔxiāo le. | The weather was so bad that even flights were canceled. |
| 她的歌声太美了，甚至让人流下了眼泪。 | Tā de gēshēng tài měi le, shènzhì ràng rén liúxiàle yǎnlèi. | Her singing was so beautiful that it even made people cry. |
| 他太忙了，甚至没时间跟家人说话。 | Tā tài máng le, shènzhì méi shíjiān gēn jiārén shuōhuà. | He was so busy that he didn’t even have time to talk to his family. |
| 她的表现太出色了，甚至获得了特别奖。 | Tā de biǎoxiàn tài chūsè le, shènzhì huòdéle tèbié jiǎng. | Her performance was so outstanding that she even won a special award. |
| 那本书太受欢迎了，甚至卖断了货。 | Nà běn shū tài shòu huānyíng le, shènzhì mài duànle huò. | That book was so popular that it even sold out. |
| 他跑得太快了，甚至没有人能追上他。 | Tā pǎo dé tài kuài le, shènzhì méiyǒu rén néng zhuī shàng tā. | He ran so fast that no one could catch up with him. |
| 她太生气了，甚至打碎了一个杯子。 | Tā tài shēngqì le, shènzhì dǎ suìle yīgè bēizi. | She was so angry that she even broke a cup. |
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FAQs
Can 甚至 be used with both nouns and verbs?
Yes, 甚至 can be used before nouns, verbs, and even entire clauses to emphasize an extreme example.
When to use 甚至 and 甚至于?
甚至 and 甚至于 are interchangeable in most cases, but 甚至于 is slightly more formal and often used in written Chinese.
Can 甚至 be used in negative sentences?
Yes, you can use 甚至 in negative sentences to emphasize an extreme case of something not happening or being done.
How do I structure a sentence with 甚至?
甚至 is usually followed by a subject-verb phrase or a noun that represents the most extreme case in a list.
For example: 他什么都会，甚至会编程。(“He can do everything, even programming.”)
Is 甚至 similar to English words like “even”?
Yes, 甚至 is often translated as “even” or “to the extent that”, depending on the sentence structure and meaning.
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