Even if: 即使…也…
Suppose something, often the worst case, and say the outcome still holds. The first clause is hypothetical; the second must carry 也, after its subject.
Structure
即使 + 假设情况，（主语）+ 也 + 结果不变
Explanation
Chinese words in this text can be activated to show a dictionary gloss.
， “Even if it rains tomorrow, the match will go ahead on time.” sets up a condition that may or may not come true and declares in advance that it will make no difference.
The key word is suppose. does not report a fact; does. ， “Although it rained, the match went ahead” describes what happened. ， promises what will happen whatever the weather does. Because of this, is never followed by — there is nothing to push back against yet.
The second clause must carry , and is an adverb, so it follows the subject: ， “Even if you don’t tell me, I know.” The condition is frequently an extreme one, chosen to show how firm the result is: ， “Even when he’s tired, he still runs every day.” Here the case is general rather than a single future event, which also covers.
is a spoken synonym and works the same way. On the paper, competes in cloze items with , and ; the in the second clause and the hypothetical first clause together point to .
Correct
Say each one out loud before moving on. The audio is a reference pronunciation, not a model to imitate exactly — match the tone contour, not the voice.
即使明天下雨，比赛也会按时举行。即使明天下雨，比賽也會按時舉行。
Jíshǐ (second tone, rising) míngtiān (second tone, rising) xià (fourth tone, falling) yǔ, (third tone, dipping) bǐsài (third tone, dipping) yě (third tone, dipping) huì (fourth tone, falling) ànshí (fourth tone, falling) jǔxíng. (third tone, dipping)···
Even if it rains tomorrow, the match will go ahead on time.
即使很累，他也坚持每天跑步。即使很累，他也堅持每天跑步。
Jíshǐ (second tone, rising) hěn (third tone, dipping) lèi, (fourth tone, falling) tā (first tone, high and level) yě (third tone, dipping) jiānchí (first tone, high and level) měitiān (third tone, dipping) pǎobù. (third tone, dipping)···
Even when he’s tired, he still runs every day.
即使你不说，我也知道。即使你不說，我也知道。
Jíshǐ (second tone, rising) nǐ (third tone, dipping) bù (fourth tone, falling) shuō, (first tone, high and level) wǒ (third tone, dipping) yě (third tone, dipping) zhīdào. (first tone, high and level)···
Even if you don’t tell me, I know.
Incorrect — Common mistakes
These sentences are wrong. They are printed here on purpose, each one paired with the repair and the reason, because the error you can recognise is the error you stop making.
Not quite
Incorrect sentence: 即使明天下雨，比赛还会举行。
Correct
Correct sentence: 即使明天下雨，比赛也会举行。
Why: The partner of 即使 is 也. 还 does not close the frame.
Not quite
Incorrect sentence: 即使他很忙，但是他也来了。
Correct
Correct sentence: 虽然他很忙，但是他还是来了。
Why: He was busy and he came: both are facts, so this is 虽然…但是…. 即使 supposes, and it never takes 但是.
Not quite
Incorrect sentence: 即使下雨，也我去。
Correct
Correct sentence: 即使下雨，我也去。
Why: 也 is an adverb and follows the subject: 我也去.
Compared with
Most errors with this pattern are not errors about this pattern — they are a neighbouring pattern arriving at the wrong moment. Read these side by side.
Both concede, but 虽然 concedes a fact and 即使 concedes a possibility. 虽然很累，但是他还是去了 “Tired as he was, he went” reports one occasion. 即使很累，他也会去 “Even if he’s tired, he’ll go” says what will happen in a case that may never arise. The second clauses differ to match: 虽然 is answered by 但是 or 可是, often with 还是; 即使 is answered by 也 alone. If you can add “and in fact it did”, use 虽然.
Concession: 虽然…但是… →Mini quiz
Question 1 / 3Total score: 0
Choose the word that completes ___明天很冷，我也要去爬山。