“Even If” in Chinese 2 – 不 bù… 也 yě…

Grammar Point:
The 不 bù…也 yě… structure in Chinese is used to express that even if something is not happening, another action or behavior is still being carried out. It highlights persistence or priority given to a certain action despite not doing something else.

Structure

不 bù + Verb + 也 yě + Verb

It’s also common to add 就算 jiùsuàn in front, which makes the statement more emphatic and natural, emphasizing that the second action will happen no matter what.

他tā不bù吃飯chīfàn也yě要yào把bǎ工作gōngzuò做zuò完wán他tā不bù吃饭chīfàn也yě要yào把bǎ工作gōngzuò做zuò完wán
He’d rather skip meals than leave his work unfinished.

孩子háizi們men不bù吃飯chīfàn也yě要yào玩wán手機shǒujī遊戲yóuxì孩子háizi们men不bù吃饭chīfàn也yě要yào玩wán手机shǒujī游戏yóuxì
The children skip meals just to play games on their phones.

我wǒ不bú睡覺shuìjiào也yě要yào追zhuī完wán這zhè部bù劇jù我wǒ不bú睡觉shuìjiào也yě要yào追zhuī完wán这zhè部bù剧jù
I’ll finish watching this drama series even if it means staying up all night.

我wǒ這次zhècì就算jiùsuàn不能bùnéng吃chī炸雞zhàjī也yě一定yídìng要yào瘦shòu下來xiàlái我wǒ这次zhècì就算jiùsuàn不能bùnéng吃chī炸鸡zhàjī也yě一定yídìng要yào瘦shòu下来xiàlái
I’ll get slim this time even if I have to skip the fried chicken.

別bié擔心dānxīn， 我wǒ不bù休息xiūxí也yě會huì幫bāng你nǐ修xiū好hǎo電腦diànnǎo别bié担心dànxīn， 我wǒ不bù休息xiūxi也yě会huì帮bāng你nǐ修xiū好hǎo电脑diànnǎo
Don’t worry, I’ll fix your computer even if I have to skip my break.

就算jiùsuàn我wǒ以後yǐhòu不bù能néng再zài跟gēn他tā當dāng朋友péngyǒu了le， 這些zhèxiē話huà我wǒ也yě要yào說shuō出來chūlái就算jiùsuàn我wǒ以后yǐhòu不bù能néng再zài跟gēn他tā当dāng朋友péngyou了le， 这些zhèxiē话huà我wǒ也yě要yào说shuō出来chūlái
I have to speak my mind even if it means we can’t be friends anymore.

他tā不bú看kàn球賽qiúsài也yě要yào陪péi女朋友nǚpéngyǒu逛街guàngjiē他tā不bú看kàn球赛qiúsài也yě要yào陪péi女朋友nǚpéngyou逛街guàngjiē
He’ll go shopping with his girlfriend even if it means missing the game.

媽媽māma不bú換huàn新xīn手機shǒujī也yě要yào給gěi我wǒ補習bǔxí費fèi妈妈māma不bú换huàn新xīn手机shǒujī也yě要yào给gěi我wǒ补习bǔxí费fèi
Mom would rather keep her old phone than stop paying for my tutoring.

FYI
In China, parents focus on core academic subjects like Math, English, and Chinese during the school year, often adding art or music lessons if budget allows. For exam prep periods like the high-stakes Zhongkao and Gaokao exams, spending on tutoring programs tends to increase significantly. Despite recent government regulations aimed at reducing after-school tutoring, many parents still find ways to support their children’s extra learning needs. On average, families spend around $300 to $1,500+ USD per month on tutoring, which can be a substantial expense—sometimes 20-30% or more of household income, depending on the number of subjects and lesson frequency.
This high demand for academic support might explain why foreigners in China can easily find English teaching jobs with very competitive hourly wages.

• Even if – 哪怕 nǎpà (HSK 4)
• Even If – 即使 jíshǐ or 哪怕 nǎpà···也 yě··· (HSK 5)
• Even If – 就算 jiùsuàn or 就是 jiùshì···也 yě··· (HSK 6)