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.

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 很 忙 ,我们 抽时间 陪 孩子 。
  • 现在 即使 很 忙 ,我们 抽时间 陪 孩子 。

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

"HSK4上" is not in the list (HSK0, HSK1, HSK2, HSK3, HSK4, HSK5, HSK6) of allowed values for the "HSK" property. :Yes