Expressing "no matter" with "wulun"

无论 (wúlùn) means "no matter," and is generally used in the first part of the sentence. As with many other constructions, 都 and 也 can be used in the second part of the sentence to emphasize the action or decision will not change. It is more formal than 不管.

Structure

无论 + Circumstances + 都 / 也 + Inevitable Result

Note that 不论 (bùlùn) is equivalent to 无论 for this pattern.

Because 无论 means "no matter," the clause that follows 无论 is going to include phrases such as "how hard you try" or "wherever you go," and thus will normally include interrogative pronouns such as 怎么, 多(么), 什么, 谁, etc.

Examples

  • 无论 多么 成功,他 觉得 自己 不够 好。Wúlùn duōme chénggōng, tā zǒng juéde zìjǐ bù gòu hǎo.No matter how successful he is, he always thinks he isn't enough.
  • 无论 你 到 哪儿 我 会 跟着 你。Wúlùn nǐ dào nǎr wǒ dōu huì gēnzhe nǐ.Wherever you go, I will follow you.
  • 无论 你 说 还是 不 说,结果 一样。Wúlùn nǐ shuō háishì bù shuō, jiéguǒ dōu yīyàng.Whether you speak up or not, the result will be the same.
  • 无论 你 做 什么,我 不 喜欢。Wúlùn nǐ zuò shénme, wǒ dōu bù xǐhuan.No matter what you do, I don't like it.
  • 无论 给 他 发 多少 消息,他 不 回。Wúlùn gěi tā fā duōshǎo xiāoxi, tā dōu bù huí.No matter how many messages you send him, he won't reply.
  • 无论 你 想 不 想,你 要 加班。Wúlùn nǐ xiǎng bu xiǎng, nǐ dōu yào jiābān.You have to work overtime whether you want to or not.
  • 无论 我 在 不 在 家,你 可以 把 快递 放 门口。Wúlùn wǒ zài bu zài jiā, nǐ dōu kěyǐ bǎ kuàidì fàng ménkǒu.Whether I'm at home or not, you can leave the package at the door.
  • 无论 他 吃 多少 药,病 没有 好。Wúlùn tā chī duōshǎo yào, bìng dōu méiyǒu hǎo.No matter how much medicine he takes, he doesn't get better.
  • 无论 你 去 不 去,我 会 去 的。Wúlùn nǐ qù bu qù, wǒ dōu huì qù de.Whether you go or not, I will go.
  • 无论 怎么样,他 会 放弃,别 高估 他。Wúlùn zěnmeyàng, tā dōu huì fàngqì, bié gāogū tā.No matter what happens, he will give up. Don't overestimate him.

无论如何 (wúlùn rúhé) is a useful set phrase, meaning "no matter what."

See also

Sources and further reading

Books