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 ⋯⋯ ，也 ⋯⋯

Examples

• 即使 他 没钱 ，我 也 要 嫁给 他 。Even if he doesn't have money, I'm still going to marry him.
• 即使 你 很 有钱 ，也 买不到 幸福 。Even if you were very rich, you can't buy happiness.
• 即使 你 没胃口 ，也 要 吃 一点 。Even if you don't have the appetite, you still need to eat something.
• 即使 你 对 这 门 课 不太 感兴趣 ，也 要 学 。Even if you are not so interested in this subject, you still need to study it.
• 即使 她 整容 ，我 也 能 认出 她 。Even if she had plastic surgery, I could still recognize her.
• 即使 他们 要 赔偿 我们 ，我们 也 要 把 事情 公开。Even if they want to make compensation, we're still going to make this public.

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) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 63) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →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） (pp. 445) [ →buy]