Complex Sentences: Concession & Condition
A complex sentence joins clauses with paired connectives. At HSK 5 the main ones are 即使…也… (even if) for a hypothetical concession, 尽管…还是… (although) for a fact, and the condition words 万一, 要是 and 一旦, plus 宁可…也… (would rather).
Contrast with 尽管…还是… (already known) — that pattern requires the situation to already be factual/true:
尽管昨天下雨，我们还是去爬山了。(Although it rained yesterday, we still went hiking.)
Review — conditional connectors pair with fixed result words:
万一/要是/一旦 + [condition]，就 + [result] (万一 = in case; 要是 = if; 一旦 = once)
宁可 + [option A]，也 + [option B] (would rather A than B)
Common mistake: using 尽管 for a not-yet-true, hypothetical situation — use 即使 instead.
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 即使明天下雨，我们也要去爬山。 | Jí shǐ míng tiān xià yǔ, wǒ men yě yào qù pá shān. | Even if it rains tomorrow, we'll still go hiking. | 即使…也: hypothetical concession — it hasn't rained yet. |
| 即使他不同意，我们也会继续这个计划。 | Jí shǐ tā bù tóng yì, wǒ men yě huì jì xù zhè ge jì huà. | Even if he doesn't agree, we'll still continue this plan. | 即使…也 with different subjects in each clause (他 vs 我们). |
| 尽管昨天下雨，我们还是去爬山了。 | Jǐn guǎn zuó tiān xià yǔ, wǒ men hái shì qù pá shān le. | Although it rained yesterday, we still went hiking. | Contrast: 尽管…还是 requires a factual, already-true situation (it already rained). |
| 万一明天下雨，我们就改到室内进行；即使天气不好，也不会影响活动的举行。 | Wàn yī míng tiān xià yǔ, wǒ men jiù gǎi dào shì nèi jìn xíng; jí shǐ tiān qì bù hǎo, yě bú huì yǐng xiǎng huó dòng de jǔ xíng. | In case it rains tomorrow, we'll move indoors; even if the weather is bad, it won't affect the event happening. | Combines a review conditional (万一…就) with 即使…也 in one passage. |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
即使…也… (jí shǐ…yě)
Grants a possible situation and says the result stays the same anyway.
Structure: 即使 + situation，也 + result
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 即使工作再忙，他也坚持每天跑步。 | Jí shǐ gōng zuò zài máng, tā yě jiān chí měi tiān pǎo bù. | However busy work gets, he still runs every day. |
| 即使你不说，我也能猜到。 | Jí shǐ nǐ bù shuō, wǒ yě néng cāi dào. | Even if you do not say it, I can guess. |
| 即使价格便宜一半，我也不会买这种东西。 | Jí shǐ jià gé pián yi yí bàn, wǒ yě bú huì mǎi zhè zhǒng dōng xī. | Even if the price were half, I would not buy this kind of thing. |
Not: 即使他昨天病了，也来上班了。 即使 is for a supposed situation. For something that really happened, use 尽管: 尽管他昨天病了，还是来上班了。
即使…也… is also explained in: Alternative, Conditional and Concessive Compound Sentences (HSK 6).
尽管…还是… (jǐn guǎn…hái shi)
Admits a fact and says the result is the same anyway.
Structure: 尽管 + fact，还是 + result
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 尽管路很远，他还是每周回家看父母。 | Jǐn guǎn lù hěn yuǎn, tā hái shì měi zhōu huí jiā kàn fù mǔ. | Although it is far, he still goes home every week to see his parents. |
| 尽管大家都反对，他还是坚持自己的想法。 | Jǐn guǎn dà jiā dōu fǎn duì, tā hái shì jiān chí zì jǐ de xiǎng fǎ. | Although everyone objected, he stuck to his own idea. |
| 尽管天气不好，比赛还是按时开始了。 | Jǐn guǎn tiān qì bù hǎo, bǐ sài hái shì àn shí kāi shǐ le. | Although the weather was bad, the match started on time. |
Not: 尽管明天会下雨，我们还是去。 尽管 is for something already true. For a situation that may not happen, use 即使: 即使明天下雨，我们还是去。
万一…就… (wàn yī…jiù)
Considers an unlikely and unwelcome possibility, and gives the plan for it.
Structure: 万一 + unlikely situation，就 + response
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 万一迷路了，你就给我打电话。 | Wàn yī mí lù le, nǐ jiù gěi wǒ dǎ diàn huà. | If you should get lost, call me. |
| 万一忘了带钥匙，我们就只能在门外等。 | Wàn yī wàng le dài yào shi, wǒ men jiù zhǐ néng zài mén wài děng. | If we forget the key, we can only wait outside. |
| 万一火车晚点，我们就改坐飞机。 | Wàn yī huǒ chē wǎn diǎn, wǒ men jiù gǎi zuò fēi jī. | In case the train is late, we will take a plane instead. |
Not: 万一我有钱，就买房子。 万一 is for unlikely, unwelcome cases. For a plain "if", use 要是 or 如果。
What you need first
Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.
What this opens up
These patterns list Complex Sentences among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.
- Alternative, Conditional and Concessive Compound Sentences
- Coordinate and Sequential Compound Sentences
- Multi-Clause Compound Sentences
- Progressive and Additive Compound Sentences
- Purpose & Consequence Clauses
The same pattern at other levels
- Complex Sentences — HSK 3
Questions about Complex Sentences
What does 复句 (Complex Sentences) mean in Chinese?
A complex sentence joins clauses with paired connectives. At HSK 5 the main ones are 即使…也… (even if) for a hypothetical concession, 尽管…还是… (although) for a fact, and the condition words 万一, 要是 and 一旦, plus 宁可…也… (would rather). It is an HSK 5 grammar point.
How do you use 复句 (Complex Sentences) in a sentence?
即使明天下雨，我们也要去爬山。 — Jí shǐ míng tiān xià yǔ, wǒ men yě yào qù pá shān. — Even if it rains tomorrow, we'll still go hiking. 即使…也: hypothetical concession — it hasn't rained yet.
What do you need to know before 复句 (Complex Sentences)?
尽管…还是/仍然… (HSK 4). This pattern is built out of them, so a sentence here that will not parse usually means one of them has not landed yet.
What does 复句 (Complex Sentences) lead to?
Alternative, Conditional and Concessive Compound Sentences (HSK 6), Coordinate and Sequential Compound Sentences (HSK 6), Multi-Clause Compound Sentences (HSK 5), Progressive and Additive Compound Sentences (HSK 6), Purpose & Consequence Clauses (HSK 5). Each of them names 复句 (Complex Sentences) among its own prerequisites.
When do I use 即使 and when 尽管?
Use 即使 for a situation that is only supposed: 即使下雨，我们也去. Use 尽管 for a fact that has already happened: 尽管下雨了，我们还是去了。
What does 万一 mean?
It means "in case" or "what if", and the situation is unlikely and unwelcome: 万一我来不了，你就先开始。
Complex Sentences is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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