Expressing "even if…" with "jiusuan"

就算 (jiùsuàn) is an informal way of saying "even if," and is used to introduce a hypothetical statement. However, unlike 即使 , 哪怕 and 就是, 就算 has more of a feeling that the speaker doesn't believe that the hypothetical statement is reasonable or has much chance of being realized.

Basic Pattern

Structure

就算 ⋯⋯ ，也 ⋯⋯

Examples

• 就算 你 不想 听 ，我 也 要 说 。Jiùsuàn nǐ bù xiǎng tīng, wǒ yě yào shuō.Even if you don't want to listen, I still need to say it.
• 就算 你 说 的 都 是 真的 ，我们 也 没 办法 证明。Jiùsuàn nǐ shuō de dōu shì zhēn de, wǒmen yě méi bànfǎ zhèngmíng.Even if what you say is true, we still don't have any way to prove it.
• 就算 会 失败 ，我 也 不 后悔 。Jiùsuàn huì shībài, wǒ yě bù hòuhuǐ.Even if I fail, I won't regret.
• 就算 他 说 他 请客 ，我 也 要 买单 。Jiùsuàn tā shuō tā qǐngkè, wǒ yě yāo mǎidān.Even if he says it's his treat, I'm still going to pay.
• 就算 你 通过 了 面试 ，也 不一定 能 被 录用 。Jiùsuàn nǐ tōngguò le miànshì,yě bù yīdìng néng bèi lùyòng.Even if you pass the interview, it can't be certain that you are going to be hired.

Advanced Pattern

Structure

就算 + 再 + Adj. ，也 ⋯⋯

Examples

• 就算 再 穷 ，她 也 不去 要饭 。Jiùsuàn zài qióng, tā yě bù qù yàofàn.She never went on the street to beg for money no matter how poor she was.
• 我 已经 吃饱了 ，就算 再 好吃 ，我 也 不 想 吃 了 。Wǒ yǐjīng chī bǎo le, jiùsuàn zài hǎochī, wǒ yě bù xiǎng chī le.I'm full already. I don't want to eat anymore no matter how good the food taste.
• 就算 再 困难 ， 我们 也 要 坚持 。Jiùsuàn zài kùnnán, wǒmen yě yào jiānchí.We should carry on no matter how difficult it is.
• 就算 你 给 我 再 多 钱 ，我 也 不能 干 违法 的 事情 。Jiùsuàn nǐ gěi wǒ zài duō qián, wǒ yě bù néng gàn wéifǎ de shìqíng.I can't do illegal things no matter how much you pay me.

Colloquial Saying

就算⋯⋯又怎么样？Even if..., so what?

A few examples:

• 就算 他 来 了 ，又 怎么样 ？Jiùsuàn tā lái le, yòu zěnme yàng?Even if he came, so what?
• 就算 你 家 有钱 ，又 怎么样 ？Jiùsuàn nǐ jiā yǒu qián, yòu zěnme yàng?Even if your family is rich, so what?
• 就算 她 不高兴 ，又 怎么样 ？Jiùsuàn tā bù gāoxìng, yòu zěnme yàng?Even if she is unhappy, so so what?

See also

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

Sources and further reading

HSK5