哪怕 (nǎ pà) — even if, even though; no matter how

Definition

哪怕 highlights an extreme case as a condition ('even if / no matter how') and pairs with 也. Closer to 就算/即便 in meaning; 即使 is more formal and hypothetical.

conjunction
even ifeven thoughno matter how

Examples

  • 哪怕，。
    nǎ pà Gōng zuò zài máng, tā yě huì chōu shí jiān duàn liàn.
    Even if work is very busy, he still makes time to exercise.
  • 哪怕，。
    nǎ pà Zhǐ yǒu yí gè rén zhī chí, wǒ yě yào jiān chí xià qù.
    Even if only one person supports me, I will persist.
  • 哪怕，。
    nǎ pà Tiān qì zài lěng, hái zi men dōu yuàn yì chū qù wán.
    No matter how cold it is, the children are willing to go out and play.

Origin

Characters in this word

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 哪 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
白
白bái怕pà
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

怕 pairs 心 (heart) with 白, which gives the sound.

Open 怕 →

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Cause, Effect & Logic5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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