即便...依然...
Reach for this when you want to insist that a result holds even under an extreme or hypothetical condition — 'even if X, Y still happens.' Both halves carry weight: 即便 raises the strongest possible counter-condition, and 依然 stresses that the outcome stays the same despite it. Heavier and more written-feeling than 即使……还是……; common in op-eds, analysis, and formal speech.
Structure
即便 [EXTREME CONDITION], [SUBJECT] 依然 [UNCHANGED RESULT]
jíbiàn... yīrán...
How to Think About It
即便 says 'go ahead, push the condition as far as you want'; 依然 answers 'it still won't change anything.' The pairing creates a steel-cable concession — the writer is acknowledging the strongest objection and then refusing to budge. It's argumentative, not descriptive, and signals confidence in the conclusion.
Examples
即便价格再贵，他依然要买。
Jíbiàn jiàgé zài guì, tā yīrán yào mǎi.
Even if the price gets even higher, he still wants to buy it.
即便所有人都反对，她依然坚持自己的决定。
Jíbiàn suǒyǒu rén dōu fǎnduì, tā yīrán jiānchí zìjǐ de juédìng.
Even if everyone opposed her, she still stuck to her decision.
即便市场环境变差，这家公司依然保持了增长。
Jíbiàn shìchǎng huánjìng biànchà, zhè jiā gōngsī yīrán bǎochí le zēngzhǎng.
Even if the market worsens, this company still maintained growth.
Common Mistake
Learners pair 即便 with 也 (即便……也……, which is fine) but then forget that 即便 needs a hypothetical or counter-to-expectation clause. Pairing it with a plain fact makes it sound off — 即便 demands stakes.
即便今天是星期一，我依然要上班。
即便今天放假，我依然要上班。
Don't Confuse With
即使……还是……
Same meaning, more conversational register. Use 即使……还是…… in speech; 即便……依然…… in writing and formal argument.
虽然……但是……
虽然 concedes a real fact ('although X is true'). 即便 raises a hypothetical or extreme case ('even if X were true').
无论……都……
无论 sweeps across all possibilities ('no matter which'). 即便 picks one extreme case and pushes against it.
Practice
Fill in the blank: ____ 下大雨，比赛依然会进行。
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即便
Fill in the blank: 即便面对失败，他 ____ 没有放弃。
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依然
Arrange into a sentence: 即便 / 依然 / 工作 / 很累 / 他 / 努力
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即便很累，他依然努力工作。
Translate to Chinese: Even if you don't agree, the plan is still going to be carried out.
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即便你不同意，这个计划依然会执行。
Write a sentence using 即便……依然…… about staying committed to a goal despite obstacles.
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即便遇到很多困难，我依然要完成这个项目。
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode: