无论如何
whatever happens; in any case; no matter what
Structure
无论如何 （都／也） 要／得／不 …
What it means
“Whatever happens, no matter what”: a fixed phrase that insists on doing something, or rules it out completely.
How it is built
无论如何 + 都／也 + 要／得／一定 + verb: 你无论如何也得来 (you have to come whatever happens). Refusal: 无论如何也 + 不／没 + verb: 他无论如何也不同意 (he simply won’t agree).
When to use it
Before the verb or at the head of the sentence. It can also say something is unthinkable: 我无论如何也想不到 (I could never have imagined). Spoken equivalents: 不管怎么样, 说什么也.
Watch out
Don’t confuse it with 无论…都… (1-4), which needs an open choice after 无论 (无论多忙都…). 无论如何 is complete by itself, since 如何 already means “how”.
Examples
司马谈临终前嘱咐儿子，无论如何都要把这部书写下去。
On his deathbed Sima Tan made his son promise to carry on the book whatever happened.
明天的会很重要，你无论如何也得来。
Tomorrow’s meeting matters; you have to come whatever happens.
我无论如何也想不到，他会说出这种话。
I could never have imagined he would say such a thing.
Learn this in Lesson 88 · HSK 6–7: 司马迁与《史记》 (Sima Qian and the Records of the Grand Historian)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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