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 你 只 发 十 块 钱 的 红包 ，大家 也 会 很 开心 的。Even if you only gave ten dollars in a red envelope, everyone would still be happy.
• 哪怕 你 就 陪 孩子 玩 一 小 会儿 ，她 也 会 很 开心 的。It would make the child really happy even if you spend only a few minutes with her.
• 哪怕 他 爸爸 是 总统 ，我 也 不 要 嫁 给 他！I wouldn't marry him even if his father is the president!
• 哪怕 你们 会 不 高兴 ，我 也 要 把 话 说 清楚。I would still say it clearly even if it made you guys unhappy.
• 哪怕 你 打扮 得 像 电影 明星 一样 ，他 也 不 会 看 你 一 眼 ！Even if you dressed up like a movie star, he still wouldn't pay you the slightest attention!

Advanced Pattern

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 ⋯⋯ ， Subj. 2 + 也 ⋯⋯

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 也 不 相信 。Even if you can be exceptionally persuasive, we're not going to believe it.
• 哪怕 再 忙 ，我 也 要 抽 时间 回家 看 父母。Even if I‘m super busy, I will still find some time to visit my parents back home.
• 哪怕 再 累 ，她 也 不 要 父母 帮忙 照顾 孩子 。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 。No matter how disobedient the children are, their parents shouldn't hit them.
• 哪怕 你 问 再 多 遍，她 现在 也 不 会 说 一 个 字 。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]

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