Even If in Chinese 3

Grammar Point:
To express even if in Chinese, we need to use 即使 jíshǐ or 哪怕 nǎpà and usually followed by the second clause 也 yě. In this pattern, the first clause is a supposition, which is then struck down as impossible by the statement’s second clause.

Structure

即使 + ···，也 + ···

Subject 1 can be put either in front of 即使 jíshǐ or after it. But if there is a subject 2, you must put it in front of 也 yě.

即使jíshǐ天氣tiānqì不好bùhǎo， 爬山páshān的de人rén也yě不會búhuì少shǎo即使jíshǐ天气tiānqì不好bùhǎo， 爬山páshān的de人rén也yě不会búhuì少shǎo
Even if the weather is bad, the number of climbers will not be small.

我wǒ即使jíshǐ睡shuì得de再zài晚wǎn， 早上zǎoshàng六點liùdiǎn也yě會huì醒來xǐnglái我wǒ即使jíshǐ睡shuì得de再zài晚wǎn， 早上zǎoshang六点liùdiǎn也yě会huì醒来xǐnglái
Even if I sleep late, I still wake up at six in the morning.

他tā即使jíshǐ生病shēngbìng， 也yě堅持jiānchí要yào工作gōngzuò他tā即使jíshǐ生病shēngbìng， 也yě坚持jiānchí要yào工作gōngzuò
He insists on working even if he is sick.

哪怕 + ···，也 + ···

哪怕 nǎpà also means “even if,” and has a stronger tone than 即使 jíshǐ. It is often used to disregard hypothetical statements of a more serious situation.

哪怕nǎpà你們nǐmen都dōu不同意bùtóngyì， 我wǒ也yě要yào跟gēn他tā結婚jiéhūn哪怕nǎpà你们nǐmen都dōu不同意bùtóngyì， 我wǒ也yě要yào跟gēn他tā结婚jiéhūn
Even if you all disagree, I still want to marry him.

哪怕nǎpà你nǐ送sòng我wǒ一yì台tái車chē， 我wǒ也yě不會búhuì做zuò你nǐ女朋友nǚpéngyǒu哪怕nǎpà你nǐ送sòng我wǒ一yì台tái车chē， 我wǒ也yě不会búhuì做zuò你nǐ女朋友nǚpéngyou
Even if you give me a car, I will not be your girlfriend.

哪怕nǎpà你nǐ一直yìzhí否認fǒurèn， 警察jǐngchá也yě會huì找zhǎo到dào證據zhèngjù的de哪怕nǎpà你nǐ一直yìzhí否认fǒurèn， 警察jǐngchá也yě会huì找zhǎo到dào证据zhèngjù的de
Even if you keep denying it, the police will find evidence.

Common Mistake

The clause used after 即使 jíshǐ or 哪怕 nǎpà must be a hypothetical situation. If not, you should use 雖然虽然 suīrán.

即使jíshǐ我wǒ現在xiànzài生病shēngbìng了le， 我wǒ也yě堅持jiānchí要yào工作gōngzuò即使jíshǐ我wǒ现在xiànzài生病shēngbìng了le， 我wǒ也yě坚持jiānchí要yào工作gōngzuò X
Even if I am sick now, I insist on working.

雖然suīrán我wǒ現在xiànzài生病shēngbìng了le， 我wǒ也yě堅持jiānchí要yào工作gōngzuò虽然suīrán我wǒ现在xiànzài生病shēngbìng了le， 我wǒ也yě坚持jiānchí要yào工作gōngzuò O
Although I am sick now, I still insist on working.

• Even if – 哪怕 nǎpà (HSK 4)
• Even if – 不 bù…也 yě… (HSK4)
• Even If – 就算 jiùsuàn or 就是 jiùshì···也 yě··· (HSK 6)