纵然／纵使…也…
even if; even though (literary)
Structure
纵然／纵使 让步的情况 ， 主语 也／仍 结果
What it means
“Even if, even though”: the written, literary forms of 即使 (1-7). They concede a supposition or a hard fact, and the result stays the same.
How it is built
纵然／纵使 + concession，subject + 也／仍／还是 + result: 纵使前面的路再难走，我们也要走下去 (however hard the road ahead, we must keep going).
When to use it
Bookish in conversation; say 就算 or 哪怕 (1-19) instead. 也, 仍 or 还是 goes after the subject of the main clause: 他也…, not 也他….
Watch out
Don’t pair them with 但是 or 可是, which belong to 虽然: ✗ 纵然很累，但是他没休息。 ✓ 纵然很累，他也没休息。
Examples
纵然每天都受着这样的折磨，他也没有放下手中的笔。
Even though he lived with this torment every day, he never put down his brush.
纵使前面的路再难走，我们也要走下去。
However hard the road ahead may be, we must keep going.
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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