即使…也…: even if…

复句 / complex sentences

Tone colorsā tone 1á tone 2ǎ tone 3à tone 4a neutral

即使 + hypothesis，(S) 也 + result

即使…也… expresses a hypothetical concession: "even if (that happened), the result would stay the same". The first clause is often imaginary or extreme.

也 is required in the second clause, after its subject. In speech you also hear 就算…也…; in writing, 即便…也… (more formal).

Versus 虽然: 虽然 states a real fact ("although"), 即使 a hypothesis ("even if").

Examples

即使明天下雨，我们也要去。
Jíshǐ míngtiān xià yǔ, wǒmen yě yào qù.
Even if it rains tomorrow, we'll still go.
即使工作再忙，他也每天锻炼半个小时。
Jíshǐ gōngzuò zài máng, tā yě měi tiān duànliàn bàn ge xiǎoshí.
However busy work gets, he exercises for half an hour every day.
即使你不说，我也知道。
Jíshǐ nǐ bù shuō, wǒ yě zhīdào.
Even if you don't say it, I know.

Common mistakes

✗ 即使明天下雨，我们还是去。 → The natural partner of 即使 is 也.

✗ Using 即使 for a real fact → ✓ 虽然他是我哥哥，但是…

✗ 也 before the subject: ✗ 也我知道 → ✓ 我也知道。