Going as far as: 甚至
甚至 adds a further, more extreme point in the same direction as what came before: “even”, “to the point of”. It sits before the extreme item, never at the start of the whole sentence.
结构
A，甚至 + 更进一步的 B ｜ 甚至 + 连…都／也…
讲解
本文中的中文词语都可以激活，查看词典释义。
， “He’s so busy at work that sometimes he even forgets to eat.” The first part sets up a claim; then reaches for the case that shows how far the claim goes.
The order is fixed by that logic. The ordinary case comes first and the extreme case second, and always stands in front of the extreme one. It can introduce a verb phrase (), a clause, or a single item at the end of a list: 、，. Both parts must point the same way. If the first part says something is simple, the part must show it is even simpler, not that it is hard: ， “This question is so easy that even a child could answer it.”
combines freely with …／… when the extreme item is a noun: . In that case still needs or .
On the HSK 4 paper, appears in cloze items next to , and , and in sentence-ordering items where its segment has to come after the ordinary case.
正确
Say each one out loud before moving on. The audio is a reference pronunciation, not a model to imitate exactly — match the tone contour, not the voice.
他工作很忙，有时候甚至忘了吃饭。他工作很忙，有時候甚至忘了吃飯。
Tā (first tone, high and level) gōngzuò (first tone, high and level) hěn (third tone, dipping) máng, (second tone, rising) yǒu (third tone, dipping) shíhou (second tone, rising) shènzhì (fourth tone, falling) wàngle (fourth tone, falling) chī (first tone, high and level) fàn. (fourth tone, falling)···
He’s so busy at work that sometimes he even forgets to eat.
这个问题很简单，甚至小孩子都会回答。這個問題很簡單，甚至小孩子都會回答。
Zhège (fourth tone, falling) wèntí (fourth tone, falling) hěn (third tone, dipping) jiǎndān, (third tone, dipping) shènzhì (fourth tone, falling) xiǎo (third tone, dipping) háizi (second tone, rising) dōu (first tone, high and level) huì (fourth tone, falling) huídá. (second tone, rising)···
This question is so easy that even a child could answer it.
他汉语说得很流利，甚至能听懂京剧。他漢語說得很流利，甚至能聽懂京劇。
Tā (first tone, high and level) Hànyǔ (fourth tone, falling) shuō (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) hěn (third tone, dipping) liúlì, (second tone, rising) shènzhì (fourth tone, falling) néng (second tone, rising) tīngdǒng (first tone, high and level) jīngjù. (first tone, high and level)···
He speaks Chinese fluently — he can even follow Peking opera.
错误 — 常见错误
These sentences are wrong. They are printed here on purpose, each one paired with the repair and the reason, because the error you can recognise is the error you stop making.
不太对
Incorrect sentence: 甚至他工作很忙，忘了吃饭。
正确
Correct sentence: 他工作很忙，甚至忘了吃饭。
为什么: 甚至 stands before the extreme case, which comes second. It cannot open the ordinary statement.
不太对
Incorrect sentence: 这个问题很难，甚至小孩子都会回答。
正确
Correct sentence: 这个问题很简单，甚至小孩子都会回答。
为什么: Both parts must point the same way. A child being able to answer shows that the question is easy, not hard.
不太对
Incorrect sentence: 他甚至连饭没吃就走了。
正确
Correct sentence: 他甚至连饭都没吃就走了。
为什么: 甚至 does not replace the 都 or 也 that 连 requires. Keep the full 连…都… frame.
对比
Most errors with this pattern are not errors about this pattern — they are a neighbouring pattern arriving at the wrong moment. Read these side by side.
而且 adds a second fact that goes further; 甚至 adds the case that goes furthest, and usually carries a note of surprise. 他会说英语，而且会说汉语 simply lists one more skill. 他会说英语，甚至会说一点儿阿拉伯语 picks the least expected one. The two combine well — 不但…而且…甚至… — but where only one gap is offered on the paper, ask whether the second item is merely additional (而且) or remarkable (甚至).
Not only… but also: 不但…而且… →小测验
第 1 题 / 3总分: 0
Choose the word that completes 他非常喜欢看书，___吃饭的时候也在看。