PMW Translation #27: Practice Using 连

🌀 Pearls of Mandarin Worksheet: Translation #27

Hello Mandarin Enthusiasts! 🌟

In this week’s lesson, we’ve explored how to use the word 连 (lián) in various contexts. Now, let’s dive in and see it in action with some detailed examples.

Let’s get started!

Recap of CGG #28 lesson

1. 连 for “even”

• 连 + [Noun] + 也/都 + [Verb Phrase]: Emphasizes the unexpected or surprising nature of an action or situation.

• 连 + [Noun] + 也/都 + [Verb Phrase]，[Noun] + 更 + [Verb Phrase]: Highlights a contrast, showing that if something is true for one subject, it is even more so for another.

• 连 + [Noun] + [Verb Phrase]，更不用说 + [Noun]: Stresses the obviousness of the second statement, indicating the second case is even more self-evident than the first.

2. 连 for Continuous or Repeated Actions

• 一连 + [Verb Phrase]: Indicates an action happening continuously over a period of time, emphasizing its duration.

• 连 + [Verb A] + 带 + [Verb B]: Describes two actions occurring together, often highlighting their intensity or extent.

Today’s Exercises

Translate these English sentences into Mandarin:

1. I didn’t even pass the last exam, let alone this one.

2. I can’t even write the simplest Chinese characters.

3. From the end of April to now, she has attended four or five weddings, including those of relatives and friends.

4. He didn’t eat anything for two consecutive days.

🌀 Translation #1

I didn’t even pass the last exam, let alone this one.

Here, we can use either of the two following structures to translate the sentence:

• 📚 Structure 1: 连 + [Noun] + 也/都 + [Verb Phrase]，[Noun] + 更 + [Verb Phrase]

• 📚 Structure 2: 连 + [Noun] + [Verb Phrase]，更不用说 + [Noun] + [Verb Phrase]

Both structures are used to express that if something was not accomplished in an easier context, it is even less likely to be accomplished in a more challenging context.

Because the sentence is informal and conversational, we’ll use the second structure for a more natural and fluent expression.

连 + [Noun] + [Verb Phrase]

The noun “the last exam” is:

• 上次的 (shàngcì de) means “the last,” where 上次 means “last time” and 的 is a modification particle linking an adjective to the following noun.

• 考试 (kǎoshì) means “exam.”

The verb phrase “didn’t even pass” can be broken down into:

• 都 (dōu) means “all” or “even” and is used to further emphasize the verb that follows.

• 没通过 (méi tōngguò) means “didn’t pass,” where 没 means “did not” and 通过 means “to pass (an exam).”

So, 我连上次的考试都没通过 (wǒ lián shàngcì de kǎoshì dōu méi tōngguò) translates to “I didn’t even pass the last exam.”

更不用说 + [Noun] + [Verb Phrase]

Here, there is no verb phrase but only the noun “this one,” which we translate as:

• 这次的 (zhècì de) means “this one,” where 这次 means “this time” and 的 is the modification particle. Here, there is no need to repeat the noun 考试 since it is implied, so 这次的 literally means “the (exam, implied) of this time.”

We also have to add a 了 particle to express the completion of the action. Since the object 这次的 is a bit long, it feels more natural to add the 了 after the object rather than after the verb 不用说. This is a special rule about 了 which we’ll cover in more details in a future grammar gem!

All in all, 更不用说这次的了 (gèng búyòng shuō zhècì de le) translates to “let alone this one.”

Recap

• 我连上次的考试都没通过，更不用说这次的了。

• 我 / 连 / 上次的 / 考试 / 都 / 没 / 通过 / ， / 更不用说 / 这次的 / 了 / 。

• wǒ lián shàngcì de kǎoshì dōu méi tōngguò, gèng búyòng shuō zhècì de le

• I didn’t even pass the last exam, let alone this one.

• I / even / last time’s / exam / didn’t / pass / let alone / this time’s / (completed action particle 了).

Let’s practice the sentences with my audio recordings:

Slow speed:

Normal speed:

🌀 Translation #2

I can’t even write the simplest Chinese characters.