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.

Basic Form

The basic "even if" form should be familiar if you know how to use 即使 or 就算.

Structure

哪怕 + [hypothetical statement] + 也 + [action]

Examples

  • 哪怕 要 花 一百万, 要 把 你 的 病 治好。Even if we need to spend one million bucks, we will cure your disease.
  • 哪怕 就 陪 孩子 玩 一 小 会儿 ,她 会 很 开心 的。It would make the child really happy even if you spend only a few minutes with her.
  • 哪怕 你 要 送 我 一 辆 宝马,我 不 要 嫁 给 你!I‘m not gonna marry you even if you give me a B.M.W.
  • 哪怕 你 打扮 得 像 电影 明星 一样,他 不 会 看 你 一 眼 !Even if you dress up like a movie star, he won't even pay you the slightest attention!

哪怕 with 再

Structure

哪怕 is often followed by 再 (in the first part of the sentence) to give further emphasis to 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.

哪怕 + [Subj-1] + 再 + Adj, [Subj 2] + 也 + [Verb phrase].

Note: some verbs can also be used with this pattern in place of the adjective.

Examples

  • 哪怕 你 说 得 再 好,我们 不 相信 。Even if you can be exceptionally persuasive, we're not going to believe it.
  • 哪怕 你 工作 再 努力,经理 不 可能 给 你 加薪 。The manager is not going to give you a pay raise no matter how hard you work.
  • 哪怕 你 问 再 多 遍,她 现在 不 会 说 一 个 字 。No matter how many times you ask her, she will not say a single word.
  • 哪怕 再 忙 ,我 要 抽 时间 陪 孩子 。Even if I‘m super busy, I will still find some time to spend with my kid.
  • 哪怕 再 累 ,她 不 要 父母 帮忙 照顾 小孩 。Even if it's really exhausting, she doesn't want her parents' help with the baby.
  • 哪怕 孩子 再 不 听话 ,父母 不 会 打 他们 。No matter how disobedient the children are, their parents won't spank them.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5