"Even If" StatementsHSK 5
Expressing 'even if…' with 即使
The conjunction 即使 introduces a hypothetical or extreme situation, while 也 in the main clause stresses that the outcome stays the same. Use 即使……也…… to mean “even if X, still Y”. Remember that 也 is required—it cannot be dropped.
Structure
即使 + Situation ，也 + Result
也 must appear in the result clause
Examples
- 即使你不想让我去，我也要去。Jí shǐ nǐ bù xiǎng ràng wǒ qù, wǒ yě yào qù.Even if you don't want me to go, I still have to go.
- 即使他没钱，我也要嫁给他。Jí shǐ tā méi qián, wǒ yě yào jià gěi tā.Even if he doesn't have money, I'm still going to marry him.
- 即使你很有钱，也买不到幸福。Jí shǐ nǐ hěn yǒu qián, yě mǎi bú dào xìng fú.Even if you were very rich, you couldn't buy happiness.
- 即使你对这门课不太感兴趣，也要学。Jí shǐ nǐ duì zhè mén kè bú tài gǎn xìng qù, yě yào xué.Even if you are not so interested in this subject, you still need to study it.
- 即使他们要赔偿我们，我们也要把事情公开。Jí shǐ tā men yào péi cháng wǒ men, wǒ men yě yào bǎ shì qing gōng kāi.Even if they want to compensate us, we're still going to make this public.