HSK 4
⋯⋯，甚至⋯⋯
⋯ ⋯ ， shèn zhì ⋯ ⋯
甚至 (Even)
Explanation
甚至 (shèn zhì) is a conjunction (a word linking clauses) used in a progressive compound sentence (递进复句 dì jìn fù jù — a sentence with two or more clauses where the latter raises the degree higher than the former), meaning 'even'. It introduces an additional extreme, surprising case to emphasize the degree.
(state a general situation) + ，甚至 (shèn zhì) + (a more extreme detail). It often combines with 连 (lián, even) …也/都 (yě/dōu, also/all): 甚至连…也…, e.g. 甚至连最简单的汉字也写不了 (even can't write the simplest Chinese character).
when, having already stated one level, you want to push to a stronger, unexpected example so the listener clearly sees how serious/exceptional the degree is.
placing 甚至 at the beginning of a sentence when there is no preceding base clause (甚至 must come in the latter clause, after a situation has been stated). Also, learners often forget the correlative pair 连…也/都, making the sentence sound unnatural; when emphasizing a specific object, use '甚至连 + object + 也/都'.
Examples
He can't do anything at all, he can't even write the simplest Chinese character.
She is seriously ill, she even needs to have surgery.
Mom is really angry, she didn't even eat dinner.
Practice
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Learn “⋯⋯，甚至⋯⋯” effectively
The grammar point “⋯⋯，甚至⋯⋯” (甚至 (Even)) is one of the key structures at HSK 4. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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