Expressing "even if…" with "napa"

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哪怕 (nǎpà) means "even if," and has a slightly stronger tone than 即使 or 就算. It is therefore often used to disregard hypothetical statements of a more serious nature.

Basic Pattern

The basic "even if" form should be familiar if you know 即使 or 就算.

Structure

哪怕 ⋯⋯ ,也 ⋯⋯

Examples

  • 哪怕 他 不 说 ,我 会 知道 。Nǎpà tā bù shuō, wǒ huì zhīdào.Even if he doesn't say, I'll still find out.
  • 哪怕 你 什么 礼物 都 没 买 ,她 会 很 开心 的 。Nǎpà nǐ shénme lǐwù dōu méi mǎi, tā huì hěn kāixīn de.It would make her really happy even if you didn't buy any present.
  • 哪怕 他 爸爸 是 总统 ,我 不 要 嫁 给 他 !Nǎpà tā bàba shì zǒngtǒng, wǒ bù yào jià gěi tā!I wouldn't marry him even if his father were the president!
  • 哪怕 你们 会 不 高兴 ,我 要 把 话 说 清楚 。Nǎpà nǐmen huì bù gāoxìng, wǒ yào bǎ huà shuō qīngchu.Even if it will make you guys unhappy, I still need to say this.
  • 哪怕 你 打扮 得 像 电影 明星 一样 ,他 不 会 看 你 一 眼 !Nǎpà nǐ dǎbàn de xiàng diànyǐng míngxīng yīyàng, tā bù huì kàn nǐ yīyǎn!Even if you dressed up like a movie star, he still wouldn't pay you the slightest attention!

Advanced Pattern with 再

Structure

哪怕 is often followed by 再 to further emphasize that what follows won't make a difference. In this usage, it's very similar to "no matter," which can also be expressed by patterns like 不管 (bùguǎn).

哪怕 + [Subj. 1] + 再 ⋯⋯ ,[Subj. 2] + 也 ⋯⋯

Examples

If the two subjects are the same, it's OK to omit one.

  • 哪怕 忙 ,我 要 健身 。Nǎpà zài máng, wǒ yào jiànshēn.Even if I‘m super busy, I will still find some time to work out.
  • 哪怕 你 说 得 好听 ,我们 不 相信 。Nǎpà nǐ shuō de zài hǎotīng, wǒmen bù xiāngxìn.No matter how convincing you are, we're still not going to believe it.
  • 哪怕 累 ,她 不 要 父母 帮忙 照顾 孩子。 Nǎpà zài lèi, tā bù yào fùmǔ bāngmáng zhàogù háizi.Even if it's really exhausting, she doesn't want her parents' help with the baby.
  • 哪怕 孩子 淘气 ,父母 不 应该 打 他们 。"Hit" could mean "spank" here.Nǎpà háizi zài táoqì, fùmǔ bù yīnggāi dǎ tāmen.No matter how disobedient the children are, their parents shouldn't hit them.
  • 哪怕 你 问 多 遍 ,她 不 会 说 一 个 字 。Nǎpà nǐ wèn zài duō biàn, tā bù huì shuō yī gè zì.No matter how many times you ask her, she will not say a single word.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5