哪怕...也... (nǎpà...yě) in Chinese
哪怕…也/还…
哪怕...也... presents an extreme or unfavorable hypothetical condition and says the result will remain unchanged even if that condition holds. 哪怕 introduces the concession, while 也 or 还 appears in the result clause after its subject. The pattern emphasizes determination or invariance rather than the likelihood of the condition.
Published July 17, 2026
Reviewed July 17, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
哪怕 + Condition, Subject + 也 + Result
Read the structure
哪怕...也... presents an extreme or unfavorable hypothetical condition and says the result will remain unchanged even if that condition holds. 哪怕 introduces the concession, while 也 or 还 appears in the result clause after its subject. The pattern emphasizes determination or invariance rather than the likelihood of the condition. Keep the model 哪怕 + Condition, Subject + 也 + Result visible while you compare each sentence.
哪怕下大雨,我们也要出发。
Even if it pours, we are still going to leave.
Choose the right context
To express determination despite difficulty: 哪怕下大雨,我们也要出发。 To say a conclusion survives an extreme condition: 哪怕只有十分钟,也值得试一试。 With a question-word extreme: 哪怕再忙,他也会给家里打电话。
哪怕只有十分钟,也值得试一试。
Even if there are only ten minutes, it is still worth trying.
Respect the boundary
For a neutral condition whose result depends on whether it happens; use 如果 instead. Do not stack 哪怕 and 也 before the condition; 也 belongs in the result clause. Do not reject 还 when it marks the unchanged result; both 也 and 还 are possible in suitable contexts.
哪怕也下大雨,我们要出发。
(Even if it pours, we are going to leave.)
Repair the pattern
哪怕 and 也 are stacked before the condition: 哪怕 introduces the condition 下大雨, while 也 belongs before the result predicate 要出发. 也 is placed before the result-clause subject: When the result clause has the subject 我们, place it before the adverb 也.
哪怕下大雨,我们也要出发。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
哪怕下大雨,我们也要出发。
Even if it pours, we are still going to leave.
哪怕
哪怕
This part occupies the 哪怕 position in the model pattern.
下
Condition, Subject
This part occupies the Condition, Subject position in the model pattern.
大雨
也
This part occupies the 也 position in the model pattern.
,
Result
This part occupies the Result position in the model pattern.
我们
哪怕
This part occupies the 哪怕 position in the model pattern.
也要
Condition, Subject
This part occupies the Condition, Subject position in the model pattern.
出发
也
This part occupies the 也 position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
哪怕下大雨,我们也要出发。
Even if it pours, we are still going to leave.
哪怕只有十分钟,也值得试一试。
Even if there are only ten minutes, it is still worth trying.
哪怕再忙,他也会给家里打电话。
No matter how busy he is, he will still call home.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- To express determination despite difficulty: 哪怕下大雨,我们也要出发。
- To say a conclusion survives an extreme condition: 哪怕只有十分钟,也值得试一试。
- With a question-word extreme: 哪怕再忙,他也会给家里打电话。
Do not use it when
- For a neutral condition whose result depends on whether it happens; use 如果 instead.
- Do not stack 哪怕 and 也 before the condition; 也 belongs in the result clause.
- Do not reject 还 when it marks the unchanged result; both 也 and 还 are possible in suitable contexts.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
哪怕也下大雨,我们要出发。
哪怕下大雨,我们也要出发。
哪怕 and 也 are stacked before the condition
哪怕 introduces the condition 下大雨, while 也 belongs before the result predicate 要出发.
哪怕下大雨,也我们要出发。
哪怕下大雨,我们也要出发。
也 is placed before the result-clause subject
When the result clause has the subject 我们, place it before the adverb 也.
哪怕也下大雨,我们要出发。
Move 也 to the result clause: 哪怕下大雨,我们也要出发。
哪怕下大雨,也我们要出发。
Put the subject before 也: 我们也要出发。
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 哪怕…也/还….
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 哪怕…也/还…. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
哪怕...也... (nǎpà...yě) Questions
What is the difference between 哪怕...也... and 即使...也...?
Both form concessive conditions. 哪怕 often presents a deliberately extreme case and can sound more emphatic, while 即使 is broader and more neutral; their uses overlap.
Can 哪怕 be followed by 还 instead of 也?
Yes. 还 can emphasize that the result remains unchanged, as in 哪怕很困难,他还要试. The intended scope and word order still need to be clear.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Construction index and function chapters relevant to 哪怕…也/还…
Supports the learner-facing account of where 哪怕…也/还… appears and what communicative job it performs.
Official sourceChinese: A Comprehensive Grammar, 2nd ed.
Yip and Rimmington · Routledge · 2016
Locator: Relevant sentence and clause chapters for 哪怕…也/还…
Cross-checks the 哪怕 + Condition, Subject + 也 + Result pattern, clause relationship, and limits represented by the reviewed examples.
Official sourceChinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 4 grammar inventory
Supports directory placement at HSK 4; it does not independently prove usage rules.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
即使…也即使...也 (Even If...)
Compare an extreme concession with a general hypothetical concession.
Easy to confuse
就算/就是…也…就算/就是...也...: Even If...
Distinguish emphatic even-if wording from conversational concession.
Compare
虽然…但是虽然...但是 (Although... But)
Separate hypothetical concession from concession about an actual fact.
Easy to confuse
纵然…也…纵然...也...: Even Though
Compare emphatic extreme concession with a formal literary concession.
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Easy to confuse
Compare an extreme concession with a general hypothetical concession.
