Meaning
甚至于 is an emphatic conjunction used to introduce an extreme case or unexpected example that goes beyond what was previously mentioned. It emphasizes that something reaches a surprising or remarkable degree, often translating to 'even' or 'so much so that' in English.
Usage
This is a more formal or literary variant of 甚至, commonly found in written Chinese or formal speech. In everyday conversation, most speakers simply use 甚至. Both forms function identically, introducing an escalation or extreme example to strengthen an argument or description.
Examples
- 01他工作太忙了，甚至于连吃饭的时间都没有。, .He's so busy with work that he doesn't even have time to eat.
- 02这本书写得很详细，甚至于包括了最小的细节。, .This book is written in great detail, even including the smallest details.
Characters
Common collocations
- 甚至于连...都...even ... (emphatic pattern)
Origin
甚至于 combines 甚 (extreme) and 至 (to reach) with the literary particle 于. The phrase literally means 'reaching to an extreme degree.' The 于 is a classical Chinese element that adds formality but no additional meaning compared to 甚至.