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. It is normally used with 也. Some forms of the pattern also use 再.

Basic Pattern

The basic "even if" form should be familiar if you know how to use 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 bùyào 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 qīngchǔ.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 (in the first part of the sentence) to further emphasize that what the speaker is saying 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 bùyào 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