Expressing "even if…" with "jiusuan"

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就算 (jiùsuàn) is an informal way of saying "even if," and is used to introduce a hypothetical statement. However, unlike 即使 , 哪怕 and 就是, 就算 has more of a feeling that the speaker doesn't believe that the hypothetical statement is reasonable or has much chance of being realized.

Basic Pattern

Structure

就算 ⋯⋯ ,也 ⋯⋯

Examples

  • 就算 你 不想 听 ,我 要 说 。Jiùsuàn nǐ bù xiǎng tīng, wǒ yào shuō.Even if you don't want to listen, I still need to say it.
  • 就算 你 说 的 都 是 真的 ,我们 没 办法 证明。Jiùsuàn nǐ shuō de dōu shì zhēn de, wǒmen méi bànfǎ zhèngmíng.Even if what you say is true, we still don't have any way to prove it.
  • 就算 会 失败 ,我 不 后悔 。Jiùsuàn huì shībài, wǒ bù hòuhuǐ.Even if I fail, I won't regret it.
  • 就算 他 说 他 请客 ,我 要 买单 。Jiùsuàn tā shuō tā qǐngkè, wǒ yāo mǎidān.Even if he says it's his treat, I'm still going to pay.
  • 就算 你 通过 了 面试 , 不一定 能 被 录用 。Jiùsuàn nǐ tōngguò le miànshì, bù yīdìng néng bèi lùyòng.Even if you pass the interview, you still won't necessarily be hired.

Advanced Pattern with 再

Structure

就算 + 再 + Adj. ,也 ⋯⋯

Examples

  • 就算 穷 ,她 不去 要饭 。Jiùsuàn zài qióng, tā bù qù yàofàn.She never went on the street to beg for money no matter how poor she was.
  • 我 已经 吃饱了 ,就算 好吃 ,我 不 想 吃 了 。Wǒ yǐjīng chī bǎo le, jiùsuàn zài hǎochī, wǒ bù xiǎng chī le.I'm full already. I don't want to eat anymore no matter how good the food tastes.
  • 就算 困难 , 我们 要 坚持 。Jiùsuàn zài kùnnan, wǒmen yào jiānchí.We should carry on no matter how difficult it is.
  • 就算 你 给 我 多 钱 ,我 不能 干 违法 的 事情 。Jiùsuàn nǐ gěi wǒ zài duō qián, wǒ bù néng gàn wéifǎ de shìqing.I can't do anything illegal, no matter how much you pay me.

Colloquial Saying

This is a great way to express "Even if..., so what?"

  • 就算 他 来 了 , 怎么样 ?Jiùsuàn tā lái le, yòu zěnmeyàng?Even if he came, so what?
  • 就算 你 家 有钱 , 怎么样 ?Jiùsuàn nǐ jiā yǒu qián, yòu zěnmeyàng?Even if your family is rich, so what?
  • 就算 她 不高兴 , 怎么样 ?Jiùsuàn tā bù gāoxìng, yòu zěnmeyàng?Even if she is unhappy, so what?

See also

Sources and further reading

HSK5