Level 4 · Upper Intermediate
Even if: 即使…也
即使 A，也 B
即使 (jíshǐ) sets up a hypothetical "even if", and 也 delivers the unchanged result: 即使明天下雨，我们也要去 "even if it rains tomorrow, we're still going". The A part hasn't happened — you're imagining the worst case.
That's exactly how it differs from 虽然: 虽然 concedes a REAL fact ("although it IS raining"), 即使 a hypothetical one. In casual speech, 就算 (jiùsuàn) does the same job: 就算你不喜欢，也应该试试.
Examples
即使明天下雨，我们也要去。
即使明天下雨，我們也要去。
jí shǐ míng tiān xià yǔ wǒ men yě yào qù
Even if it rains tomorrow, we're still going.
即使没有人帮我，我也能做完。
即使沒有人幫我，我也能做完。
jí shǐ méi yǒu rén bāng wǒ wǒ yě néng zuò wán
Even if no one helps me, I can still finish it.
就算你不喜欢，也应该试试。
就算你不喜歡，也應該試試。
jiù suàn nǐ bù xǐ huan yě yīng gāi shì shi
Even if you don't like it, you should still give it a try.
即使他不来，我们也可以开始。
即使他不來，我們也可以開始。
jí shǐ tā bù lái wǒ men yě kě yǐ kāi shǐ
Even if he doesn't come, we can still start.
Common mistakes
✗ 虽然明天下雨，我们也要去。
✓ 即使明天下雨，我们也要去。
虽然 is for real facts; for a hypothetical "even if", use 即使.
Related grammar points
See it in a story
Read this pattern in context: The Lion and the Mouse · Yu Gong Moves the Mountains · Chang'e Flies to the Moon — free graded stories with tap-to-reveal pinyin and translations.
