即使……（也/还）……
Reach for 即使...也/还... when you want to concede a hypothetical or extreme situation, then say the outcome holds anyway. 'Even if it's expensive, I'm buying it.' 'Even if you don't agree, I'm going.' 即使 introduces the conceded condition; 也 (or 还) in the second clause locks in the unchanged result. This is the bread-and-butter concession pattern at HSK 3 level — central to argumentative speaking and writing.
Structure
即使 [HYPOTHETICAL CONDITION], [SUBJECT] 也/还 [UNCHANGED OUTCOME]
jíshǐ... yě/hái...
How to Think About It
即使 always reaches for the worst or most extreme version of the condition — the speaker is pre-empting an objection by saying 'even in that case...' The 也 in the second clause is the pivot — it announces 'and yet, this result holds.' Without 也/还, the concession has nothing to push against. Choose 也 when stressing 'still / nonetheless'; 还 when emphasizing continuation. Unlike 虽然, the 即使 clause does NOT have to be true — it's hypothetical.
Examples
即使再忙, 我也会抽时间锻炼。
Jíshǐ zài máng, wǒ yě huì chōu shíjiān duànliàn.
No matter how busy I am, I'll still find time to exercise.
即使没人帮我, 我也要把这件事做完。
Jíshǐ méi rén bāng wǒ, wǒ yě yào bǎ zhè jiàn shì zuò wán.
Even if no one helps me, I'll finish this thing.
即使你不喜欢, 还得吃一点。
Jíshǐ nǐ bù xǐhuan, hái děi chī yìdiǎn.
Even if you don't like it, you still have to eat a little.
Common Mistake
Learners pair 即使 with 但是 like English 'even though...but,' producing a structure Chinese doesn't accept. 即使 must pair with 也 or 还 — never 但是 or 可是.
即使下雨, 但是我还要去。
即使下雨, 我也要去。
Don't Confuse With
虽然……但是……
虽然 names a REAL situation; 即使 names a HYPOTHETICAL one. '虽然下雨' = it's actually raining; '即使下雨' = even IF it rains. Get the truth-value right.
如果……就……
如果 sets up a conditional with a result that follows from it; 即使 sets up a conditional whose result is unchanged regardless. 如果 chains cause to effect; 即使 breaks that chain.
就算……也……
Spoken synonym of 即使. Same logic, more conversational tone. Pick 就算 in dialogue, 即使 in essays and news.
Practice
即使天气不好, 我们 ___ 要出门。
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也
___ 别人不相信, 我相信你。
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即使
Put in order: [即使 / 我 / 也 / 失败 / 不后悔]
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即使失败, 我也不后悔。
Translate to Chinese: 'Even if the road is long, we'll make it there.'
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即使路再远, 我们也会到达。
Make a promise that holds no matter what, using 即使...也...
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Example answer: 即使再难, 我也会陪你一起面对。 (Even if it gets hard, I'll face it together with you.)
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode:
Related Grammar Patterns
Acquire by listening
Hear 即使……（也/还）…… 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, no card.