Even if and although: 即使, 哪怕, 就算, 尽管
即使/哪怕/就算…也 for 'even if', 尽管…还是 for 'although (it's true)'.
Part of the free B2 Chinese course (about HSK 5). Examples are in Simplified characters, with pinyin only for some new or hard words; press the speaker to hear one with your device's Chinese voice.
Two kinds of concession
A concession says "the result holds anyway". Chinese separates two cases:
- Even if (a supposition, which may or may not be true): 即使, 哪怕, 就算 … 也.
- Although (a fact you accept as true): 尽管 … 还是 / 但是 / 却, a stronger, slightly more formal 虽然 (Because, although, if: 因为…所以, 虽然…但是, 如果…就).
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Second clause | Register |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 即使 | jíshǐ | even if | 也 | neutral, common in writing |
| 即便 | jíbiàn | even if | 也 | written |
| 哪怕 | nǎpà | even if (often an extreme case) | 也 | spoken, emphatic |
| 就算 | jiùsuàn | even if | 也 | spoken |
| 尽管 | jǐnguǎn | although (it is true that) | 还是, 但是, 却, 仍然 | neutral to written |
即使, 哪怕, 就算 … 也
All three mean "even if", and the second clause takes 也. 也 is an adverb, so it goes after the subject: 我也去, not 也我去.
- 即使你不同意，我也要试一试。Even if you don't agree, I'm going to give it a try.
- 哪怕只有一个人来，我们也要把课上完。Even if only one person comes, we'll still finish the class.
- 就算他道歉，我也不会原谅他。Even if he apologises, I won't forgive him.
- 即便条件有限，他们也完成了任务。Even with limited resources, they completed the task.
哪怕 likes extreme cases: 哪怕一分钟, 哪怕再难. 就算 and 哪怕 are the everyday spoken choices; 即使 fits anywhere and is the usual choice in writing. In writing, 即使 and 即便 can also concede a real fact (as in the last example, where the resources really were limited); 尽管, the other way round, can't introduce a mere supposition.
尽管 … 还是
尽管 concedes a fact: it is true, and the result happens anyway. The second clause takes 还是, 但是, 可是, 却 or 仍然.
- 尽管他很累，他还是把作业写完了。Although he was very tired, he still finished his homework.
- 尽管天气不好，游客却比平时还多。Although the weather was bad, there were even more visitors than usual.
尽管 has a second, unrelated use as an adverb: "feel free to". 有什么问题，尽管问我。 = If you have any questions, just ask me.
- 有什么需要，尽管告诉我。If you need anything, don't hesitate to tell me.
Common mistakes
即使下雨，也我们去。→ 即使下雨，我们也去。也 goes after the subject.即使你不来，我去。→ 我也去。The "even if" words need 也 in the second clause.即使他很忙，但是他来了。→ 尽管他很忙，但是他来了。即使 doesn't pair with 但是; 尽管 (or 虽然) does.尽管明天下雨，我也去。meaning "even if it rains tomorrow" → 即使明天下雨，我也去。尽管 concedes something known to be true; for a supposition use 即使, 就算 or 哪怕.
Practice
- 尽管工资不高，她_____很喜欢这份工作。// Although the pay isn't high, she still loves this job.Options: 还是 · 就 · 才
Show the answer
还是 — 尽管 pairs with 还是 (or 但是, 却, 仍然).
- 就算你现在出发，_____赶不上那班火车了。// Even if you set off now, you won't catch that train.Options: 也 · 就 · 才
Show the answer
也 — 就算 … 也: even if.
- _____明天下大雨，运动会也不会推迟。// Even if it pours tomorrow, the sports day won't be postponed.
Show the answer
即使 — Any of the 'even if' words works with 也 (spoken 就是…也 and literary 纵然/纵使…也 too). In a written notice, 即使 or 即便 is the usual choice.
- Where does 也 go?Options: 即使你不来，我也去。 · 即使你不来，也我去。 · 即使也你不来，我去。
Show the answer
即使你不来，我也去。 — 也 is an adverb: after the subject, before the verb.