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.
即使下大雨，我也要去看比赛。
Jíshǐ xià dàyǔ, wǒ yě yào qù kàn bǐsài.
Even if it pours, I'm still going to watch the match.
即使再忙，他也会陪孩子吃晚饭。
Jíshǐ zài máng, tā yě huì péi háizi chī wǎnfàn.
No matter how busy he is, he still has dinner with his kids.
即使你不同意，我还是要试一试。
Jíshǐ nǐ bù tóngyì, wǒ háishi yào shì yi shì.
Even if you don't agree, I'm still going to try.
即使失败了，我也不会后悔。
Jíshǐ shībài le, wǒ yě bú huì hòuhuǐ.
Even if I fail, I won't regret it.
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.
虽然...但是...
'Although...but...' — concedes a real, actual fact. 即使 concedes a hypothetical or extreme case. Use 虽然 for what is, 即使 for what might be.
就算...也...
Near-synonym of 即使...也..., but more spoken/casual. Same meaning; pick 就算 in conversation and 即使 in writing or formal speech.
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.)
Fill in: ____很累，我____要完成这个项目。
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即使, 也
Translate to Chinese: Even if it's expensive, I'll still buy it.
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即使很贵，我也要买。
Arrange: 即使 / 也 / 不 / 听 / 他 / 说 / 我 / 的话
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即使我说，他也不听。
Use 即使...也... to express determination in the face of a difficulty.
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即使路很远，我也要走过去。
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 2 Fluentide episodes. Press play to hear the sentence:
即使最高层的一两个人不在了，整个政府的系统还是可以继续运行。
Even if one or two people at the highest level are gone, the entire government system can still continue to operate.
Iran Searches for Leader After KhameneiIntermediate
有时候她即使是同一个人，性格也会有一点点变化。
Sometimes even though she is the same person, her personality changes a little bit.
Jisoo's Boyfriend on Demand Netflix DramaIntermediate
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.