Expressing "even if…" with "jishi"

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.

See also

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

Sources and further reading

Books

• Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp.261-3) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 63) →buy
• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 289) →buy
• 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课下册） (p. 445)→buy