How to use 哪怕…也
哪怕 + concession，subject + 也 + unchanged result
哪怕 introduces a concession that the speaker treats as unable to change the main point. It often highlights an extreme obstacle or a minimal possibility, giving the sentence an emphatic tone. The resulting statement may express determination, reassurance, or an evaluation. English commonly uses even if, although the exact wording depends on what the speaker is conceding.
The result clause usually contains 也 before its predicate. 再 can appear before an adjective in the concession to mean however strong that quality becomes. Do not assume that every 哪怕 sentence concerns danger or a serious event; ordinary situations also work when the speaker wants to stress that they make no decisive difference.
Examples with pinyin and English
哪怕他不说，我也会知道。
Even if he doesn't say, I'll still find out.
哪怕你什么礼物都没买，她也会很开心的。
It would make her really happy even if you didn't buy any present.
哪怕他爸爸是总统，我也不要嫁给他！
I wouldn't marry him even if his father were the president!
哪怕你们会不高兴，我也要把话说清楚。
Even if it will make you guys unhappy, I still need to say this.
What to remember
- Use 哪怕 for an emphatic concession.
- Put 也 before the unchanged result.
- Use 再 with an adjective to extend the possible degree.
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Source and editorial notes
Explanation rewritten for Laowai. Examples are adapted from the Laowai English grammar curriculum, with editorial corrections where needed. The original curriculum credits AllSet Learning’s Chinese Grammar Wiki as used with permission. Read the retained source credits.
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