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.
• 就是 以后 会 失败，我 也 想 尝试。Jiùshì yǐhòu huì shībài, wǒ yě xiǎng chángshì.Even if it will fail in the future, I want to try.
• 就是 你 告诉 我 答案 了，我 也 会 不想 作弊。Jiùshì nǐ gàosù wǒ dá'ànle, wǒ yě huì bùxiǎng zuòbì.Even if you told me the answer, I would not want to cheat.
• 就是 大家 都 同意 这个 方案，我 也 不会 同意的。Jiùshì dàjiā dōu tóngyì zhège fāng'àn, wǒ yě bù huì tóngyì de.Even if everyone agrees to this plan, I will not agree.
• 我 就是 被 炒鱿鱼 了，我 也 不想 做 违法 的事情。Wǒ Jiùshì bèi chǎoyóuyúle, wǒ yě bùxiǎng zuò wéifǎ de shìqíng.I was fired, and I don't want to do anything illegal.
• 就是 你 买 了 车，我 也 不会 嫁给 你的。Jiùshì nǐ mǎile chē, wǒ yě bù huì jià gěi nǐ de.Even if you buy a car, I will not marry you.
• 就是 路上 没有 人，你 也 不 应该 闯 红灯。Jiùshì lùshàng méiyǒu rén, nǐ yě bù yīnggāi chuǎnghóngdēng.Even if there is no one on the road, you shouldn't run a red light.
• 就是 你 生 我的 气，我 也 要 告诉 他 这件事。Jiùshì nǐ shēng wǒ de qì, wǒ yě yào gàosù tā zhè jiàn shì.Even if you are angry with me, I also want to tell him about it.

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