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 要 嫁给 他 。Even if he doesn't have money, I'm still going to marry him.
  • 即使 你 很 有钱 , 买不到 幸福 。Even if you were very rich, you can't buy happiness.
  • 即使 你 没胃口 , 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 , 要 学 。Even if you are not so interested in this subject, you still need to study it.
  • 即使 她 整容 ,我 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 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 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