Expressing "even if…" with "jiushi"

就是 (jiùshì) is one of the many "even ifs." Like 即使 , 就算 and 哪怕 it is used to introduce a hypothetical statement, which can then disregarded with 也.

Structure

就是 + Hypothetical Statement + 也 + Action

Examples

• 就是 这 台 电脑 价格 上万，我 也 会 买。Jiùshì zhè tái diànnǎo jiàgé shàng wàn, wǒ yě huì mǎi.Even if this computer's price is over 10,000 yuan, I'm still going to buy it.
• 就是 降温 了，我 也 要 穿 热裤，时尚 嘛! Jiùshì jiàngwēn le, wǒ yě yào chuān rè kù, shíshàng ma!Even if it's starting to get cooler, I'm still going to wear short shorts. It's the fad!
• 就是 他 变成 一个 穷光蛋，我 也 愿意 跟 他 在 一起。Jiùshì tā biàn chéng yīgè qióngguāngdàn, wǒ yě yuànyì gēn tā zài yīqǐ.Even if he were penniless, I would still be willing to be with him.

Note that the clause used after 就是 must be hypothetical, otherwise 虽然 should be used:

• 现在 虽然 是 高峰期，但 我 也 要 出去。Xiànzài suīrán shì gāofēng qī, dàn wǒ yě yào chūqù.Although it's peak busy hours, I still want to go out.
• 现在 就是 是 高峰期，我 也 要 出去。

In the sentence above, it being rush hour is not a hypothetical statement, so it is incorrect to use 就是.

See also

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

Sources and further reading

Books

• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 153) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

HSK5