Chinese character 连

It marks connection, continuity, inclusion, or “even”—the phrase decides.

In Mandarin, 连着 describes things joined or continuing, 连发 means successive sending or action, and 连皮一起吃 includes the skin in eating. The phrase around 连 distinguishes these readings.

Why does 连 mean “even”?

It highlights an extreme example, then 都 or 也 completes the emphasis.

Put the highlighted person, thing, or action after 连, then place 都 or 也 before the predicate. 连我都不信 means “Even I don’t believe it”: the speaker is the surprising case.

With a verb in a negative sentence, the verb can repeat after 都: 连问都不问 means “not even ask.” That repetition is part of the construction.

How did 连 develop?

Its written history runs through earlier forms; 连 is the simplified counterpart of 連.

Bronze inscriptions from the late Spring and Autumn period attest an earlier form; later manuscripts from the Chu and Qin periods and small-seal script, a formal early writing style, show further stages. Shuowen, a traditional Chinese character dictionary, explains 連 as a person drawing a cart, joining movement and cart components. This is a traditional account of the character’s form and connective meaning.

Japanese uses 連 in compounds such as 連結 (linking), 連休 (consecutive holidays), and 連載 (serialization). Korean Hanja also uses 連, read 연 or 련. These are distinct language conventions; simplified 连 does not replace 連 in Japanese or Korean writing.