甚至 shènzhì even (to the point of)
even (to the point of); so much so that
How to remember 甚至: 甚 considerably + 至 until = even (to the point of).
Characters
How it is used
- 'Even (to the point that)' - introduces an extreme case to intensify - 他忙得甚至忘了吃饭 (tā máng de shènzhì wàngle chīfàn) he was so busy he even forgot to eat.
- Often pairs with 连…都 for emphasis: 甚至连老师都不知道 (shènzhì lián lǎoshī dōu bù zhīdào) even the teacher didn't know.
- Adverb/conjunction, more written and emphatic than a plain 连…都; it flags that what follows is surprising or extreme.
Example sentences
- 我甚至不想试试。 Wǒ shènzhì bùxiǎng shìshì.I don't even want to try it.
- 她甚至连晚饭都没吃。 Tā shènzhì lián wǎnfàn dōu méi chī.She didn't even have supper.
- 他很激动，甚至连话都说不出来了。 Tā hěn jīdòng, shènzhì lián huà dōu shuō bu chūlái le.He was so excited that he couldn't utter a word.