Difference between revisions of "Expressing "even if…" with "jishi""

Revision as of 03:56, 8 July 2013

Level

B2 / HSK4
Level

B2
Level

HSK4
Similar to
Similar to
- Expressing "since" with "jiran" (HSK4)
- Expressing "unless" with "chufei" (HSK4)
- Expressing "even if…" with "jiushi" (HSK5)
- Expressing "even if…" with "jiusuan" (HSK5)
- Expressing "even if…" with "napa" (HSK5)
Used for

Indicating conditions, Expressing determination
Keywords

也, 即使

即使...也 (jíshǐ... yě) means "even if...still...". In this construction, the first clause (after 即使) is a supposition, which is then struck down as impossible by the second clause (after 也) of the statement.

Structure

即使 + [hypothetical statement] + 也 + [action].

Examples

即使领导不来，我们也要照样开会。Even if the boss doesn't come, we will still have the meeting as usual.
你即使不想听，也应该假装感兴趣。Even if you don't want to listen, you still have to pretend to be interested.
即使明天下雨，我也要出去爬山。Even if it's raining tomorrow, we're still going to go out hiking.

Note that the clause used after 即使 must be hypothetical, otherwise 虽然 should be used.

现在虽然是高峰期，我也要出去。
现在即使是高峰期，我也要出去。

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

Sources and further reading

Books

@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 * [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (pp. 63) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy]
 * [[现代汉语八百词（增订本）]] (pp. 289) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]
+*[[40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册）]] (p. 445)[http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001FTL8D8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001FTL8D8&linkCode=as2&tag=allset-20 →buy]
 [[Category: B2 grammar points]]