即便……也/依然……
Reach for 即便...也/依然... to grant the worst-case scenario and then say it doesn't change the outcome — 'Even if it rains, we're still going.' 'Even if he apologized, I wouldn't forgive him.' 即便 sets up a concession (real or hypothetical), and 也 or 依然 in the second clause locks in the unchanged result. This is the more literary cousin of 即使 — common in essays, speeches, and news commentary.
Structure
即便 [CONCESSION CLAUSE], [SUBJECT] 也/依然 [UNCHANGED OUTCOME]
jíbiàn... yě/yīrán...
How to Think About It
即便 raises an extreme hypothetical — almost always something bad, hard, or unfavorable — and the 也/依然 in the second clause says 'doesn't matter, same result.' 依然 emphasizes that the situation stays unchanged ('still / nevertheless'); 也 is the lighter, neutral pair. The clause after 即便 can be real or imagined; either way, you're conceding it for the sake of argument. Drop the 也/依然 and the sentence has no anchor for the 'still' meaning.
Examples
即便下大雨, 比赛也不会取消。
Jíbiàn xià dà yǔ, bǐsài yě bú huì qǔxiāo.
Even if it rains heavily, the match won't be canceled.
即便价格再高, 他依然要买那本书。
Jíbiàn jiàgé zài gāo, tā yīrán yào mǎi nà běn shū.
However high the price, he still insists on buying that book.
即便失败了, 我们也不能放弃。
Jíbiàn shībài le, wǒmen yě bù néng fàngqì.
Even if we fail, we can't give up.
Common Mistake
Learners pair 即便 with 但是 or 可是, treating the structure like 'although...but...' Chinese concession patterns require 也/还/依然, not 但是 — the second clause asserts the same outcome continuing, not a new contrast.
即便很累, 但是他还在工作。
即便很累, 他依然在工作。
Don't Confuse With
即使……也……
Direct synonym, slightly more common in everyday writing. 即便 is a touch more literary; 即使 is the neutral default. Pick either — they're interchangeable in meaning.
就算……也……
Spoken cousin. 就算 is conversational ('even if'), 即便 is written. Same logic, just different register.
虽然……但是……
虽然 reports a REAL situation that contrasts with another real one ('although it's raining, he still went'). 即便 raises a HYPOTHETICAL or extreme case — the concession may not even be true.
Practice
即便很冷, 他 ___ 坚持晨跑。
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依然
___ 没有钱, 我们也要完成这个项目。
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即便
Put in order: [即便 / 也 / 我 / 你 / 不同意 / 要去]
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即便你不同意, 我也要去。
Translate to Chinese: 'Even if everyone opposes it, I'll still try.'
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即便所有人都反对, 我依然会尝试。
State something you'd do regardless of an obstacle using 即便...也/依然...
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Example answer: 即便加班到深夜, 我也要把项目做完。 (Even if I have to work late into the night, I'll finish the project.)
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode. Press play to hear the sentence:
当他捧起奖杯说出那句“这是为了球迷”时，现场爆发出的欢呼声甚至盖过了比赛本身，这就是超级巨星的底蕴，即便是拖着伤腿，依然能上演“达米安时刻”。
When he hoisted the trophy and said "This is for the fans," the eruption of cheers in the arena drowned out the competition itself — this is the pedigree of a superstar: even hobbling on an injured leg, he can still deliver a "Dame Time" moment.
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Related Grammar Patterns
Acquire by listening
Hear 即便……也/依然…… in real Chinese, not in a textbook.
Fluentide picks the next news episode at your level, so this pattern shows up again and again in real context. The transcript marks it, the audio drills it. Free to start.