Difference between revisions of "Expressing "even if…" with "jishi""

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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.  
 
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.  
  

Revision as of 06:41, 16 July 2013

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 要 照样 开会。Even if the boss doesn't come, we will still have the meeting as usual.
  • 即使 不 想 听, 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 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 要 出去。
  • 现在 即使 是 高峰 期, 我 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

Sources and further reading

Books