HSK 6
就算/就是⋯⋯也⋯⋯
jiù suàn / jiù shì ⋯ ⋯ yě ⋯ ⋯
就算/就是...也... (Even if... still...)
Explanation
This is a concessive compound sentence (a sentence with a clause stating an assumption and a second clause affirming that the result remains unchanged), using the conjunction pair 就算/就是⋯⋯也⋯⋯ meaning "even if... still...".
就算 (jiù suàn) / 就是 (jiù shì) + assumption + 也 (yě) + unchanged result → "even if... then still...".
就算他错了你也不能说他 (jiù suàn tā cuò le nǐ yě bù néng shuō tā, even if he is wrong you still can't scold him).
when you want to present an extreme or unlikely condition to emphasize that the result remains unchanged. The character 也 (yě, also/still) in the second clause is required for the correlative pairing.
就算 (jiù suàn) and 就是 (jiù shì) here have the same meaning ("even if") and are interchangeable; both are colloquial forms of 即使 (jí shǐ). Note that 就是 also has another meaning, "exactly is," so you must rely on the context and the 也 that follows to distinguish them.
Vietnamese learners often forget the character 也 (yě) in the second clause, which breaks the correlative pair and makes the sentence sound abrupt. They also often confuse 就是 (even if) with 就是 (exactly is) when 也 is missing.
Examples
Even the student with the best grades cannot answer this question.
Even if you want to lose weight right away, you still can't skip meals every day.
Even if he was wrong, you still can't scold him; he's still young.
Practice
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Learn “就算/就是⋯⋯也⋯⋯” effectively
The grammar point “就算/就是⋯⋯也⋯⋯” (就算/就是...也... (Even if... still...)) is one of the key structures at HSK 6. 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.
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