甚至 (shènzhì) — even

HSK 3 | adverb / conjunction | even, even to the point of — used to introduce a surprising extreme

甚至 (shènzhì)

甚至 means even or even to the point of. It introduces an extreme or surprising example that goes beyond what was already said, often to emphasize a degree or severity.

Meanings

  1. [adverb] Even; as far as; going so far as.
  2. [conjunction] Even; used to connect a more extreme statement.

Example Sentences

他太忙了,甚至没有时间吃饭。 Tā tài máng le, shènzhì méiyǒu shíjiān chīfàn. He is so busy that he doesn't even have time to eat.

她学得很快,甚至比老师学得还好。 Tā xué de hěn kuài, shènzhì bǐ lǎoshī xué de hái hǎo. She learns very quickly, even better than the teacher.

天气很冷,甚至下雪了。 Tiānqì hěn lěng, shènzhì xià xuě le. The weather is very cold; it is even snowing.

我甚至不知道他叫什么名字。 Wǒ shènzhì bù zhīdào tā jiào shénme míngzi. I don't even know his name.

Collocations

Collocation Meaning
甚至于 even; to the extent that (formal)
甚至连 even (with subject emphasis)
甚至更 even more
不知道甚至 not even knowing
甚至没有 not even having

Memory Hook

甚 means very much or extreme, and 至 means to reach or arrive at. 甚至 means reaching all the way to the extreme point. If something 甚至 happens, you have gone further than expected.