Even Though and Even If in Mandarin: 虽然, 即使, 就算
By Michael McGettrick and Wee Khang LinUpdated 12 October 2026
English "even though" concedes something that is so; "even if" concedes something that may never happen. Mandarin uses different words: (suīrán) for a fact, and (jíshǐ), (jiùsuàn) or (nǎpà) for a supposition. Each needs a partner in the second clause.
Quick check
Three quick questions on what you have just read. The full practice is further down.
Pick the right one
0/3Fact or supposition? Pick the Mandarin for the English.
It rained yesterday, but we went anyway.
Even if it rains tomorrow, we'll go. (It may well stay dry.)
Even if it's only one yuan, I'll pay you back.
The whole system on one screen
The colours stay the same all page long:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
，。 | Suīrán xià yǔ le, wǒmen háishi qù le. | Even though it rained, we went (a fact) |
，。 | Jíshǐ míngtiān xià yǔ, wǒmen yě qù. | Even if it rains tomorrow, we'll go |
，。 | Jiùsuàn nǐ bú qù, wǒ yě qù. | Even if you don't go, I'm going |
，。 | Nǎpà zhǐyǒu yí kuài qián, wǒ yě yào huángěi nǐ. | Even if it's only one yuan, I'll repay you |
，。 | Jǐnguǎn hěn lěng, tā háishi qù pǎobù le. | Despite the cold, he went running |
The test is one question: has it happened, or is it true? Then (suīrán). Might it happen? Then (jíshǐ):
- ，
- ，
Yesterday's football really happened: 虽然很累，还是踢了球 (suīrán hěn lèi, háishi tī le qiú), tired as I was, I still played. Tomorrow's bike ride has not happened yet: 即使下雨，也去骑车 (jíshǐ xià yǔ, yě qù qíchē), even if it rains, I'll still go cycling.
Even though: 虽然 (suīrán) for a fact
(suīrán) concedes something that really is so. The second clause takes (dànshì) or (kěshì) before its subject, or (háishi), "still", before its verb:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
，。 | Suīrán tā hěn lèi, dànshì tā hái zài gōngzuò. | Although he's tired, he's still working |
，。 | Suīrán zhè běn shū hěn nán, dànshì wǒ kànwán le. | The book was hard, but I finished it |
，。 | Suīrán hěn guì, wǒ háishi mǎi le. | It was dear, but I bought it anyway |
The full story of (suīrán) and its partners is on although in Mandarin.
Even if: 即使 (jíshǐ)…也 (yě)
For something that has not happened, and may never happen, the opener is (jíshǐ) and the partner is (yě), before the verb:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
，。 | Jíshǐ míngtiān xià yǔ, wǒmen yě qù. | Even if it rains tomorrow, we'll go |
，。 | Jíshǐ hěn guì, wǒ yě huì mǎi. | Even if it's dear, I'll buy it |
，。 | Jíshǐ shībài le, wǒ yě bú huì fàngqì. | Even if I fail, I won't give up |
(jíshǐ) is not an "if". A condition decides the result and takes (jiù): ，。 (Rúguǒ xià yǔ, wǒ jiù bú qù.), if it rains, I won't go. says the result happens anyway, so does not fit: ，。 is wrong. More on that on unless and in case.
就算 (jiùsuàn): the spoken even if
(jiùsuàn) works exactly like (jíshǐ), with (yě), and it is the one you hear in conversation:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
，。 | Jiùsuàn nǐ bù tóngyì, wǒ yě yào shìshi. | Even if you disagree, I want to try |
，。 | Jiùsuàn méiyǒu rén bāng wǒ, wǒ yě néng zuòwán. | Even if nobody helps, I can finish it |
In an argument, (jiùsuàn) can also grant a point for the sake of argument, true or not: ，。 (Jiùsuàn nǐ shuō de duì, yě bù néng zhèyàng shuō.), even if you are right, you can't talk like that. For something that plainly happened, like yesterday's rain, use (suīrán).
The three openers for "even if" differ in register more than in meaning:
- 就算 jiùsuàn
- 即使 jíshǐ
- 即便 jíbiàn
哪怕 (nǎpà): even at the extreme
(nǎpà) is the emphatic "even if". It suits promises and vows, often with an extreme or a tiny amount, and it takes the same (yě):
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
，。 | Nǎpà zhǐyǒu yí kuài qián, wǒ yě yào huángěi nǐ. | Even if it's only one yuan, I'll pay you back |
，。 | Nǎpà nǐ mà wǒ, wǒ yě bù zǒu. | Shout at me if you like, I'm not leaving |
，。 | Nǎpà zài máng, tā yě měitiān gěi māma dǎ diànhuà. | However busy, he rings his mum every day |
In the last row, (zài) + an adjective means "however": (nǎpà zài máng), however busy he is.
尽管 (jǐnguǎn): although, or feel free
(jǐnguǎn) concedes a fact, like (suīrán), and sounds a little more formal: "despite", "although". It takes (háishi), (dànshì), or in writing (réngrán):
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
，。 | Jǐnguǎn tiānqì hěn lěng, tā háishi qù pǎobù le. | Despite the cold, he still went running |
，。 | Jǐnguǎn hěn máng, tā háishi měitiān zuòfàn. | Busy as he is, he cooks every day |
。 | Yǒu wèntí jǐnguǎn wèn wǒ. | Any questions, just ask me |
The last row is (jǐnguǎn)'s other job: straight before a verb, with no concession anywhere, it means "feel free to". Where sits among the written connectives is on formal connectives.
Plain "even": 连 (lián)…都 (dōu) and 甚至 (shènzhì)
When English "even" picks out one surprising thing, with no clause to concede, Mandarin uses (lián)… (dōu), or the adverb (shènzhì):
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
。 | Lián lǎoshī dōu xiào le. | Even the teacher laughed |
，。 | Tā hěn máng, shènzhì méi shíjiān chīfàn. | He's so busy he doesn't even have time to eat |
The whole (lián) construction is on 连…都 emphasis.
Mistakes English speakers make
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
，。 | ，。 | (jíshǐ) takes (yě), not (jiù) |
，。 | ，。 | yesterday's rain is a fact: (suīrán) |
What to do next
- Do the drill below.
- Write one sentence about last week with
(suīrán) and one about next week with(jíshǐ) or(jiùsuàn). - Then read 无论 (wúlùn) and 不管 (bùguǎn), which covers every case at once instead of one.