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HSK 7

别说……，连……也/都……；连……也/都……，别说……；即使……也……，别说……

bié shuō … … ， lián … … yě / dōu … … ； lián … … yě / dōu … … ， bié shuō … … ； jí shǐ … … yě … … ， bié shuō … …

The structure '别说...连...也/都...' to emphasize contrast

Explanation

This is a progressive compound sentence (a sentence with several clauses, where the later clause pushes the idea more strongly than the earlier one) using '别说...，连...也/都...' for emphatic contrast: it cites an easier/harder case to highlight the main case, which goes without saying.

Structure

别说 (biéshuō = let alone) + A, 连 (lián = even) + B + 也/都 + situation; or inverted: 连...也/都..., 别说...; or 即使 (jíshǐ = even if)...也..., 别说... A is the level ruled out by '别说', B is the extreme benchmark for comparison.

When to use

when one wants to emphasize through extreme comparison—even case B (surprisingly easy/hard) is already like this, so A needs no discussion.

Distinguish

'别说 A，连 B 也...'—A is usually something that ought to be taken for granted, B is something more surprising serving as evidence; don't swap the roles of A/B, which would reverse the logic.

Common mistakes

forgetting the '也/都' in the '连' clause (it must be 连...也/都...); and getting the order of degrees wrong, which robs the sentence of its emphatic contrast.

Examples

别说是大学生了，连小学生都比他写得好。
biéshuōshìdàxuéshēngle，liánxiǎoxuéshēngdōubǐtāxiědehǎo。

Let alone a university student, even a primary-school pupil writes better than he does.

我现在穷得连饭也吃不起了，别说买新衣服了。
wǒxiànzàiqióngdeliánfànyěchībùqǐle，biéshuōmǎixīnyīfule。

I'm now so poor I can't even afford food, let alone buy new clothes.

别说爸爸，即使是老师，也说不出这种植物的名字。
biéshuōbàba，jíshǐshìlǎoshī，yěshuōbùchūzhèzhǒngzhíwùdemíngzi。

Let alone Dad, even the teacher can't name this kind of plant.

即使是稍微有钱的家庭，也禁不住她这么花钱，别说普通家庭了。
jíshǐshìshāowēiyǒuqiándejiātíng，yějīnbúzhùtāzhèmehuāqián，biéshuōpǔtōngjiātíngle。

Even a somewhat well-off family couldn't withstand her spending like this, let alone an ordinary family.

Practice

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Learn “别说……，连……也/都……；连……也/都……，别说……；即使……也……，别说……” effectively

The grammar point “别说……，连……也/都……；连……也/都……，别说……；即使……也……，别说……” (The structure '别说...连...也/都...' to emphasize contrast) is one of the key structures at HSK 7. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.

Study tip: read the examples aloud many times to build a natural reflex. Then try making your own sentences for your own situations. Use the audio button to hear and practice accurate pronunciation.

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