即使 meaning in English

jíshǐ

even if; even though

HSK 5conjunction15 strokes

Meaning of 即使

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

jíshǐ

even if; even though

How to use 即使

即使 introduces a hypothetical or real concession and is usually paired with 也 (yě) in the second clause. It is common in both speech and writing, and sounds a little more formal than 就算 (jiùsuàn). Example: 即使下雨，我们也去。(Jíshǐ xià yǔ, wǒmen yě qù.) Even if it rains, we will still go.

即 (jí) means 'right then, even' as in 立即 (lìjí), and 使 (shǐ) means 'to make or cause' as in 使用 (shǐyòng). Think of 即使 as 'even if you make it happen', a way to set up a tough condition that still will not change the result.

Common mistake: Learners often drop 也 in the main clause, saying 即使下雨，我们去, which sounds incomplete. Also do not confuse 即 (jí) with 既 (jì), which looks similar and appears in 既然 (jìrán, since) and 既…又… (both…and).

即使 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

即jí使shǐ有yǒu比bǐ你nǐ漂piào亮liàng的de，也yě不bú会huì太tài多duō。

If there even are people more beautiful than you, there won't be many of them.

即jí使shǐ是shì小xiǎo孩hái也yě能néng读dú这zhè本běn书shū。

Even children can read this book.

他tā们men分fēn房fáng睡shuì，即jí使shǐ他tā们men已yǐ经jīng结jié婚hūn了le。

They sleep in separate bedrooms even though they're married.

即jí使shǐ我wǒ知zhī道dào答dá案àn，我wǒ也yě不bú会huì告gào诉sù你nǐ。

Even if I knew the answer, I wouldn't tell you.

即jí使shǐ离lí开kāi父fù母mǔ，也yě不bú会huì思sī念niàn他tā们men。

Even if you leave your parents, you still won't think of them.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

即 jí · namely · 7 strokes

使 shǐ · to make · 8 strokes

Related words

Words that share a character with 即使.

使用	shǐyòng	to use; to employ
大使馆	dàshǐguǎn	embassy
即将	jíjiāng	about to; on the point of; soon
立即	lìjí	immediately
使劲	shǐjìn	to exert all one's strength
促使	cùshǐ	to prompt; to induce; to spur
使得	shǐde	usable; serviceable; feasible; workable; doable
大使	dàshǐ	ambassador; envoy
天使	tiānshǐ	angel
即便	jíbiàn	even if; even though
使命	shǐmìng	mission; long-term task to which one devotes oneself
使者	shǐzhě	emissary; envoy

Questions about 即使

What does 即使 mean?

即使 (jíshǐ) means "even if; even though" and is used as a conjunction.

How do you write 即使?

即使 is made of 2 characters: 即 (7 strokes), 使 (8 strokes). That is 15 strokes in total.

Is 即使 an HSK word?

Yes. 即使 is on the HSK 5 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

What is the difference between 即使 and 虽然?

虽然 (suīrán) means 'although' and states a fact that is true, paired with 但是. 即使 often introduces a supposed situation, 'even if', paired with 也. For a real fact, 虽然 is the safer choice.

Can 即使 go after the subject?

Yes. Both 即使他不来，我也会等 and 他即使不来，我也会等 are correct. When the two clauses have the same subject, putting 即使 after the subject is very natural, as in 我即使很累，也要完成。