Expressing "even if…" with "napa"

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 也 会 知道 。Nǎpà tā bù shuō, wǒ yě huì zhīdào.Even if he doesn't say, I'll still find out.
• 哪怕 你 什么 礼物 都 没 买 ，她 也 会 很 开心 的 。Nǎpà nǐ shénme lǐwù dōu méi mǎi, tā yě 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 也 不 要 嫁 给 他 ！Nǎpà tā bàba shì zǒngtǒng, wǒ yě 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 也 要 把 话 说 清楚 。Nǎpà nǐmen huì bù gāoxìng, wǒ yě 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 也 不 会 看 你 一 眼 ！Nǎpà nǐ dǎbàn de xiàng diànyǐng míngxīng yīyàng, tā yě 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 再 忙 ，我 也 要 健身 。Nǎpà zài máng, wǒ yě yào jiànshēn.Even if I‘m super busy, I will still find some time to work out.
• 哪怕 你 说 得 再 好听 ，我们 也 不 相信 。Nǎpà nǐ shuō de zài hǎotīng, wǒmen yě bù xiāngxìn.No matter how convincing you are, we're still not going to believe it.
• 哪怕 再 累 ，她 也 不 要 父母 帮忙 照顾 孩子。 Nǎpà zài lèi, tā yě 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 再 淘气 ，父母 也 不 应该 打 他们 。"Hit" could mean "spank" here.Nǎpà háizi zài táoqì, fùmǔ yě bù yīnggāi dǎ tāmen.No matter how disobedient the children are, their parents shouldn't hit them.
• 哪怕 你 问 再 多 遍 ，她 也 不 会 说 一 个 字 。Nǎpà nǐ wèn zài duō biàn, tā yě bù huì shuō yī gè zì.No matter how many times you ask her, she will not say a single word.

See also

• Expressing "even if…" with "jishi"
• Expressing "even if…" with "jiushi"
• Expressing "even if…" with "jiusuan"

Sources and further reading

Books

• New Practical Chinese Reader 5 (新实用汉语课本5) (pp. 113) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (pp. 556) [ →buy]
• 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (pp. 113) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy

HSK5