甚 means 'very' or 'to a great degree', and 至 means 'to reach' or 'up to'. Together, 甚至 literally conveys 'to the point of reaching [an extreme]', which evolved into the modern meaning 'even' — used to introduce an especially striking, surprising, or extreme example in a series or contrast. It emphasizes unexpected intensity or degree, often highlighting something beyond what was already stated or implied.

This word functions as both a conjunction (linking clauses) and an adverb (modifying verbs, adjectives, or entire sentences). It typically appears at the beginning of a clause or before the emphasized element, and is common in both spoken and written Chinese — though slightly more formal than colloquial alternatives like 连…都. It frequently appears after words like 不但, 不仅, or 而且 to strengthen contrast or escalation.