Even if / even though… (纵然/纵使)

Structure 纵然/纵使 + extreme supposition，（subject）也 + result

纵然 (zòngrán) and 纵使 (zòngshǐ) set up a concessive hypothesis taken to the extreme: "even if…", "however much…". They are the markedly literary variant of 即使…也… (HSK 4) and 哪怕…也… (HSK 5, more colloquial): they share the structure of closing with 也, but belong to the register of essays, formal speeches and polished prose. They grant an extreme supposition — real or imagined — and assert that the result holds anyway: 纵然困难重重，他也从未放弃 = "even though obstacles piled up, he never gave up".

Examples

纵zòng然rán困kùn难nán重chóng重chóng，他tā也yě从cóng未wèi放fàng弃qì。
Even though obstacles piled up, he never once gave up.
纵zòng使shǐ前qián路lù漫màn漫màn，我wǒ们men也yě要yào坚jiān定dìng地de走zǒu下xià去qù。
However long the road ahead, we will press on resolutely.
纵zòng然rán天tiān赋fù过guò人rén，不bù肯kěn努nǔ力lì也yě难nán有yǒu成chéng就jiù。
However exceptional one's talent, without effort little can be achieved.
纵zòng使shǐ全quán世shì界jiè都dōu反fǎn对duì，她tā也yě坚jiān持chí自zì己jǐ的de信xìn念niàn。
Even if the whole world were against her, she would hold to her convictions.

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