HSK 4 grammar · new HSK syllabus
即使…也…: even if
即使 A 也 B = even if A, still B: 即使下雨，我们也去.
Structure
- 即使 + A，(subject) + 也 + B
How it works
即使 introduces a situation, real or imagined, and 也 says the result won’t change: 即使很累，他也坚持学习.
In speech, 就是…也… and 哪怕…也… are similar.
Examples
-
即使明天下雨，我们也要去。
Jíshǐ míngtiān xiàyǔ, wǒmen yě yào qù.
Even if it rains tomorrow, we’re going.
-
即使工作很忙，他也每天给父母打电话。
Jíshǐ gōngzuò hěn máng, tā yě měi tiān gěi fùmǔ dǎdiànhuà.
Even when work is busy, he calls his parents every day.
-
即使你不说，我也知道。
Jíshǐ nǐ bù shuō, wǒ yě zhīdào.
Even if you don’t tell me, I know.
-
这个问题即使是老师也不一定会回答。
Zhège wèntí jíshǐ shì lǎoshī yě bù yídìng huì huídá.
Even a teacher might not be able to answer this question.
-
即使失败了，也是一次很好的经验。
Jíshǐ shībài le, yě shì yí cì hěn hǎo de jīngyàn.
Even if it fails, it’s a good experience.
Words in these examples (35)
| 即使 | jíshǐ | even if | HSK 4 |
| 明天 | míngtiān | tomorrow | HSK 1 |
| 下雨 | xiàyǔ | to rain | HSK 1 |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 也 | yě | also; too | HSK 1 |
| 要 | yào | to want; will; should | HSK 1 |
| 去 | qù | to go | HSK 1 |
| 工作 | gōngzuò | to work; job; work | HSK 1 |
| 很 | hěn | very | HSK 1 |
| 忙 | máng | busy | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 每 | měi | every; each | HSK 2 |
| 天 | tiān | day; sky | HSK 1 |
| 给 | gěi | to give; for; to | HSK 1 |
| 父母 | fùmǔ | parents | HSK 4 |
| 打电话 | dǎdiànhuà | to make a phone call | HSK 1 |
| 你 | nǐ | you | HSK 1 |
| 不 | bù | not; no | HSK 1 |
| 说 | shuō | to say; to speak | HSK 1 |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 知道 | zhīdào | to know (a fact) | HSK 1 |
| 这个 | zhège | this one | HSK 1 |
| 问题 | wèntí | question; problem | HSK 1 |
| 是 | shì | to be (am, is, are); yes | HSK 1 |
| 老师 | lǎoshī | teacher | HSK 1 |
| 一定 | yídìng | certainly; surely | HSK 3 |
| 会 | huì | can; to know how to | HSK 1 |
| 回答 | huídá | to answer; answer | HSK 3 |
| 失败 | shībài | to fail; failure | HSK 4 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 次 | cì | time (occurrence), as in 三次 "three times" | HSK 2 |
| 好 | hǎo | good; well | HSK 1 |
| 的 | de | (particle linking a describer to a noun, like "'s") | HSK 1 |
| 经验 | jīngyàn | experience (knowledge gained) | HSK 4 |
Common mistakes
-
✗即使下雨，我们都去。
✓即使下雨，我们也去。
即使 pairs with 也.
-
✗即使下雨，但是我们去。
✓即使下雨，我们也去。
Don’t combine 即使 with 但是.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 即使很贵，我 要买。
2. 你不来，我也会等你。
3. 即使是周末，他也 。