zhège chuāngtái lián yìdiǎnr yángguāng dōu méiyǒu.

a little

Breakdown of zhège chuāngtái lián yìdiǎnr yángguāng dōu méiyǒu.

• 连lián: even
• 都dōu: even
• 这个zhège: this

Questions & Answers about zhège chuāngtái lián yìdiǎnr yángguāng dōu méiyǒu.

Why is 这个 used before 窗台? Does it mean this windowsill?

Yes. 这个窗台 means this windowsill.

• 这 = this
• 个 = a very common measure word
• 窗台 = windowsill

In Chinese, demonstratives like this/that are often followed by a measure word before the noun:

• 这个人 = this person
• 这本书 = this book
• 这张桌子 = this table
• 这个窗台 = this windowsill

Even though English does not need a word like 个 here, Chinese usually does.

What does 连...都... mean in this sentence?

连...都... is a pattern used for emphasis. It often means something like:

• even...
• not even...
• to the extent that even...

In this sentence:

• 连一点儿阳光都没有

literally feels like:

• even a little sunlight, it doesn’t have

Natural English:

• There isn’t even a little sunlight on this windowsill.

This pattern highlights something surprising, extreme, or disappointing. It draws attention to the fact that even the smallest amount is absent.

Examples:

• 他连名字都不会写。 = He can’t even write his name.
• 我连一口水都没喝。 = I didn’t even drink a sip of water.

Why is 都 used if the sentence is not talking about all?