甚至 / 甚至于shènzhì / shènzhìyú

Adverb / Conjunction 甚至 (shènzhì): Even / So much so that...

Meaning: Even, to the point that, so much so that

Pattern

甚至 (and its more formal variant 甚至于) means "even / so much so that".
It introduces an extreme example or an escalated action in the final part of a sequence.
It frequently combines with: (1) 不仅/不但…，甚至… ("not only..., even...", e.g., 他不仅会说汉语，甚至会写中国书法), or (2) 甚至 + (连) + NP + 都/也 + VP ("even [noun] also...", e.g., 甚至连老师也答不上来).
Do not confuse 甚至 ("even" — escalating degree) with 至于 ("as for" — shifting to another topic).

1
他工作太忙了，甚至没有时间吃饭。
Tā gōngzuò tài máng le, shènzhì méiyǒu shíjiān chīfàn.
He is so busy with work that he doesn't even have time to eat.
2
这道题很难，甚至连老师也答不上来。
Zhè dào tí hěn nán, shènzhì lián lǎoshī yě dá bù shànglái.
This question is very difficult; even the teacher cannot answer it.
3
他不仅会说汉语，甚至会写中国书法。
Tā bùjǐn huì shuō Hànyǔ, shènzhì huì xiě Zhōngguó shūfǎ.
Not only can he speak Chinese, he can even write Chinese calligraphy.

•When 甚至 precedes a noun to highlight an extreme case, pair it with 都 or 也 before the verb (甚至连…都/也…).

⚠️ Common Mistakes:

•Confusing 甚至 ("even") with 至于 ("as for").

•Omitting 都 or 也 when 甚至 precedes a noun subject (*甚至他来 instead of 甚至连他都来了).

Combine Vocabulary, Grammar, Reading Practice, Listening, Hanzi Writing, and Mock Exams at HSK 5 to master all skills together.