HSK 5
再...也...: No Matter How... in Chinese
再...也... forms an extreme concessive frame: no matter how far the first degree or condition goes, the second result remains unchanged. 再 comes before the adjective, verb, or question-word phrase that sets the extreme, and 也 marks the invariant result. This differs from 再也不..., which means never again.
STRUCTURE
再 + Extreme Condition, 也 + Result
When to use 再…也… — and when not
Use it when
- To keep a decision unchanged despite degree: 再忙，我也会来。
- With an adjective describing difficulty: 这道题再难也要做完。
- With 怎么 for any possible manner or effort: 他再怎么解释，我也不会相信。
Don't use it when
- For repetition meaning 'again'; use 再 with a future or unrealized action without this concessive frame.
- Do not place 也 directly after 再 before the extreme condition.
- Do not confuse 再...也... with 再也不..., where 再也 forms one time expression meaning 'ever again.'
Right vs. wrong
再也忙，我会来。
再忙，我也会来。
再 and 也 are stacked before the extreme condition
In the concessive frame, 再 introduces the extreme condition 忙, while 也 belongs in the result clause before 会来.
这道题难再也要做完。
这道题再难也要做完。
再 is placed after the adjective it modifies
再 must precede the adjective 难 to mean 'no matter how difficult.' The result marker 也 then precedes 要做完.
Examples
再忙，我也会来。
Zài máng, wǒ yě huì lái.
No matter how busy I am, I will come.
这道题再难也要做完。
Zhè dào tí zài nán yě yào zuòwán.
No matter how difficult this problem is, it must be finished.
他再怎么解释，我也不会相信。
Tā zài zěnme jiěshì, wǒ yě bú huì xiāngxìn.
No matter how he explains it, I will not believe him.
Common mistakes
再也忙，我会来。
Zài yě máng, wǒ huì lái.
Move 也 to the result clause: 再忙，我也会来。
这道题难再也要做完。
Zhè dào tí nán zài yě yào zuòwán.
Put 再 before 难: 这道题再难也要做完。
Think you've got it?
Write your own 再…也… sentence and check that grammar point first.
再...也...: No Matter How... FAQ
What is the difference between 再...也... and 再也不...?
再...也... sets an extreme condition and an unchanged result: 再忙也去. 再也不... is a time expression meaning 'never again': 我再也不去了.
Can 再...也... use 怎么?
Yes. 再怎么 + verb commonly means 'no matter how someone does it,' as in 你再怎么劝，他也不会改变主意.