HSK 4
不⋯⋯也⋯⋯
bù ⋯ ⋯ yě ⋯ ⋯
The structure 'even if not... still...' (obligatory even if not)
Explanation
This is a contracted compound sentence (紧缩复句 jǐnsuō fùjù — two clauses compressed into one short sentence, with no comma separating them), using the frame 不⋯⋯也⋯⋯ meaning 'even if not... still...', expressing determination in spite of everything.
subject + 不 (bù) + [the thing sacrificed/given up] + 也 (yě) + 要 (yào) + [the thing one is determined to accomplish].
不睡觉也要写完 = even if not sleeping, still must finish writing.
when emphasizing the determination to get thing B done, being willing to give up A (eating, sleeping, resting...).
different from 不⋯⋯不⋯⋯ (if not A then not B, merely a condition). Here the second clause usually goes with 要 (yào = must, want) to make the sense of determination clear.
Vietnamese learners often drop 要 in the second clause, losing the nuance of determination; you should keep 也要. In addition, the two clauses are written together, not separated by a long correlative conjunction like 虽然/但是.
Examples
Tonight, even if I don't sleep, I must finish writing this essay.
Even if he doesn't eat, he still insists on helping me fix the computer.
Even if he doesn't rest, he still insists on finishing today's work.
Practice
Test your understanding with a quick quiz
Learn “不⋯⋯也⋯⋯” effectively
The grammar point “不⋯⋯也⋯⋯” (The structure 'even if not... still...' (obligatory even if not)) is one of the key structures at HSK 4. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
Study tip: read the examples aloud many times to build a natural reflex. Then try making your own sentences for your own situations. Use the audio button to hear and practice accurate pronunciation.
You can also view the full “” lesson to understand the related grammar and vocabulary more deeply.