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

 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
哪怕 (nǎpà) means "even if," and has a slightly stronger tone than [[Expressing "Even if…" with "jishi"|即使]] or [[Expressing "Even if…" with "jiusuan"|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]].
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哪怕 (nǎpà) means "even if," and has a slightly stronger tone than [[Expressing "Even if…" with "jishi"|即使]] or [[Expressing "Even if…" with "jiusuan"|就算]]. It is therefore often used to disregard hypothetical statements of a more serious nature.
  
 
== Basic Pattern ==
 
== Basic Pattern ==
  
The basic "even if" form should be familiar if you know how to use [[Expressing "Even if…" with "jishi"|即使]] or [[Expressing "Even if…" with "jiusuan"|就算]].
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The basic "even if" form should be familiar if you know [[Expressing "Even if…" with "jishi"|即使]] or [[Expressing "Even if…" with "jiusuan"|就算]].
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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*<em>哪怕</em> 他 不 说 ,我 <strong>也</strong> 会 知道 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Nǎpà</em> tā bù shuō, wǒ <strong>yě</strong> huì zhīdào.</span><span class="trans">Even if he doesn't say, I'll still find out.</span>
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*<em>哪怕</em> 他 不 说 ,我 <em>也</em> 会 知道 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Nǎpà</em> tā bù shuō, wǒ <em>yě</em> huì zhīdào.</span><span class="trans">Even if he doesn't say, I'll still find out.</span>
*<em>哪怕</em> 你 什么 礼物 都 没 买 ,她 <strong>也</strong> 会 很 开心 的 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Nǎpà</em> nǐ shénme lǐwù dōu méi mǎi, tā <strong>yě</strong> huì hěn kāixīn de.</span><span class="trans">It would make her really happy even if you didn't buy any present.</span>
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*<em>哪怕</em> 你 什么 礼物 都 没 买 ,她 <em>也</em> 会 很 开心 的 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Nǎpà</em> nǐ shénme lǐwù dōu méi mǎi, tā <em>yě</em> huì hěn kāixīn de.</span><span class="trans">It would make her really happy even if you didn't buy any present.</span>
*<em>哪怕</em> 他 爸爸 是 总统 ,我 <strong>也</strong> 不 要 嫁 给 他 !<span class="pinyin"><em>Nǎpà</em> tā bàba shì zǒngtǒng, wǒ <strong>yě</strong> bùyào jià gěi tā!</span><span class="trans">I wouldn't marry him even if his father were the president! </span>
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*<em>哪怕</em> 他 爸爸 是 总统 ,我 <em>也</em> 不 要 嫁 给 他 !<span class="pinyin"><em>Nǎpà</em> tā bàba shì zǒngtǒng, wǒ <em>yě</em> bù yào jià gěi tā!</span><span class="trans">I wouldn't marry him even if his father were the president! </span>
*<em>哪怕</em> 你们 会 不 高兴 ,我 <strong>也</strong> 要 把 话 说 清楚 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Nǎpà</em> nǐmen huì bù gāoxìng, wǒ <strong>yě</strong> yào bǎ huà shuō qīngchǔ.</span><span class="trans">Even if it will make you guys unhappy, I still need to say this.</span>
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*<em>哪怕</em> 你们 会 不 高兴 ,我 <em>也</em> 要 把 话 说 清楚 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Nǎpà</em> nǐmen huì bù gāoxìng, wǒ <em>yě</em> yào bǎ huà shuō qīngchu.</span><span class="trans">Even if it will make you guys unhappy, I still need to say this.</span>
*<em>哪怕</em> 你 打扮 得 像 电影 明星 一样 ,他 <strong>也</strong> 不 会 看 你 一 眼 !<span class="pinyin"><em>Nǎpà</em> nǐ dǎbàn de xiàng diànyǐng míngxīng yīyàng, tā <strong>yě</strong> bù huì kàn nǐ yīyǎn!</span><span class="trans">Even if you dressed up like a movie star, he still wouldn't pay you the slightest attention!</span>
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*<em>哪怕</em> 你 打扮 得 像 电影 明星 一样 ,他 <em>也</em> 不 会 看 你 一 眼 !<span class="pinyin"><em>Nǎpà</em> nǐ dǎbàn de xiàng diànyǐng míngxīng yīyàng, tā <em>yě</em> bù huì kàn nǐ yīyǎn!</span><span class="trans">Even if you dressed up like a movie star, he still wouldn't pay you the slightest attention!</span>
  
 
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=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
哪怕 is often followed by 再 (in the first part of the sentence) to further emphasize that 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 [["No matter" with "buguan"|不管 (bùguǎn)]].
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哪怕 is often followed by 再 to further emphasize that what follows won't make a difference. In this usage, it's very similar to "no matter," which can also be expressed by patterns like [["No matter" with "buguan"|不管 (bùguǎn)]].
  
 
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<div class="jiegou">
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*<em>哪怕</em> <strong>再</strong> 忙 ,我 <em>也</em> 要 健身 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Nǎpà</em> <strong>zài</strong> máng, wǒ <em>yě</em> yào jiànshēn.</span><span class="trans">Even if I‘m super busy, I will still find some time to work out.</span>
 
*<em>哪怕</em> <strong>再</strong> 忙 ,我 <em>也</em> 要 健身 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Nǎpà</em> <strong>zài</strong> máng, wǒ <em>yě</em> yào jiànshēn.</span><span class="trans">Even if I‘m super busy, I will still find some time to work out.</span>
*<em>哪怕</em> 你 说 得 <strong>再</strong> 好听 ,我们 <strong>也</strong> 不 相信 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Nǎpà</em> nǐ shuō de <strong>zài</strong> hǎotīng, wǒmen <strong>yě</strong> bù xiāngxìn.</span><span class="trans">No matter how convincing you are, we're still not going to believe it.</span>
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*<em>哪怕</em> 你 说 得 <strong>再</strong> 好听 ,我们 <em>也</em> 不 相信 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Nǎpà</em> nǐ shuō de <strong>zài</strong> hǎotīng, wǒmen <em>yě</em> bù xiāngxìn.</span><span class="trans">No matter how convincing you are, we're still not going to believe it.</span>
* <em>哪怕</em> <strong>再</strong> 累 ,她 <strong>也</strong> 不 要 父母 帮忙 照顾 孩子。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Nǎpà</em> <strong>zài</strong> lèi, tā <strong>yě</strong> bùyào fùmǔ bāngmáng zhàogù háizi.</span><span class="trans">Even if it's really exhausting, she doesn't want her parents' help with the baby.</span>
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* <em>哪怕</em> <strong>再</strong> 累 ,她 <em>也</em> 不 要 父母 帮忙 照顾 孩子。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Nǎpà</em> <strong>zài</strong> lèi, tā <em>yě</em> bù yào fùmǔ bāngmáng zhàogù háizi.</span><span class="trans">Even if it's really exhausting, she doesn't want her parents' help with the baby.</span>
* <em>哪怕</em> 孩子 <strong>再</strong> 淘气 ,父母 <strong>也</strong> 不 应该 打 他们 。<span class="expl">"Hit" could mean "spank" here.</span><span class="pinyin"><em>Nǎpà</em> háizi <strong>zài</strong> táoqì, fùmǔ <strong>yě</strong> bù yīnggāi dǎ tāmen.</span><span class="trans">No matter how disobedient the children are, their parents shouldn't hit them.</span>
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* <em>哪怕</em> 孩子 <strong>再</strong> 淘气 ,父母 <em>也</em> 不 应该 打 他们 。<span class="expl">"Hit" could mean "spank" here.</span><span class="pinyin"><em>Nǎpà</em> háizi <strong>zài</strong> táoqì, fùmǔ <em>yě</em> bù yīnggāi dǎ tāmen.</span><span class="trans">No matter how disobedient the children are, their parents shouldn't hit them.</span>
*<em>哪怕</em> 你 问 <strong>再</strong> 多 遍 ,她 <strong>也</strong> 不 会 说 一 个 字 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Nǎpà</em> nǐ wèn <strong>zài</strong> duō biàn, tā <strong>yě</strong> bù huì shuō yī gè zì.</span><span class="trans">No matter how many times you ask her, she will not say a single word.</span>
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*<em>哪怕</em> 你 问 <strong>再</strong> 多 遍 ,她 <em>也</em> 不 会 说 一 个 字 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Nǎpà</em> nǐ wèn <strong>zài</strong> duō biàn, tā <em>yě</em> bù huì shuō yī gè zì.</span><span class="trans">No matter how many times you ask her, she will not say a single word.</span>
  
 
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Latest revision as of 03:44, 18 January 2021

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.

Basic Pattern

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

Structure

哪怕 ⋯⋯ ,也 ⋯⋯

Examples

  • 哪怕 他 不 说 ,我 会 知道 。Nǎpà tā bù shuō, wǒ huì zhīdào.Even if he doesn't say, I'll still find out.
  • 哪怕 你 什么 礼物 都 没 买 ,她 会 很 开心 的 。Nǎpà nǐ shénme lǐwù dōu méi mǎi, tā huì hěn kāixīn de.It would make her really happy even if you didn't buy any present.
  • 哪怕 他 爸爸 是 总统 ,我 不 要 嫁 给 他 !Nǎpà tā bàba shì zǒngtǒng, wǒ bù yào jià gěi tā!I wouldn't marry him even if his father were the president!
  • 哪怕 你们 会 不 高兴 ,我 要 把 话 说 清楚 。Nǎpà nǐmen huì bù gāoxìng, wǒ yào bǎ huà shuō qīngchu.Even if it will make you guys unhappy, I still need to say this.
  • 哪怕 你 打扮 得 像 电影 明星 一样 ,他 不 会 看 你 一 眼 !Nǎpà nǐ dǎbàn de xiàng diànyǐng míngxīng yīyàng, tā bù huì kàn nǐ yīyǎn!Even if you dressed up like a movie star, he still wouldn't pay you the slightest attention!

Advanced Pattern with 再

Structure

哪怕 is often followed by 再 to further emphasize that what follows 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 (bùguǎn).

哪怕 + [Subj. 1] + 再 ⋯⋯ ,[Subj. 2] + 也 ⋯⋯

Examples

If the two subjects are the same, it's OK to omit one.

  • 哪怕 忙 ,我 要 健身 。Nǎpà zài máng, wǒ yào jiànshēn.Even if I‘m super busy, I will still find some time to work out.
  • 哪怕 你 说 得 好听 ,我们 不 相信 。Nǎpà nǐ shuō de zài hǎotīng, wǒmen bù xiāngxìn.No matter how convincing you are, we're still not going to believe it.
  • 哪怕 累 ,她 不 要 父母 帮忙 照顾 孩子。 Nǎpà zài lèi, tā bù yào fùmǔ bāngmáng zhàogù háizi.Even if it's really exhausting, she doesn't want her parents' help with the baby.
  • 哪怕 孩子 淘气 ,父母 不 应该 打 他们 。"Hit" could mean "spank" here.Nǎpà háizi zài táoqì, fùmǔ bù yīnggāi dǎ tāmen.No matter how disobedient the children are, their parents shouldn't hit them.
  • 哪怕 你 问 多 遍 ,她 不 会 说 一 个 字 。Nǎpà nǐ wèn zài duō biàn, tā bù huì shuō yī gè zì.No matter how many times you ask her, she will not say a single word.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK5