Concessive: 再……也/就……
让步复句：再……也/就……
Express "no matter how (much)..." using 再 with 也 or 就 to form concessive sentences
Place 再 before an adjective or verb to indicate an extreme degree, then follow with 也 or 就 to express that the result remains unchanged or inevitable despite that extreme.
再 here does not mean "again" — it means "no matter how much more." The 也 variant emphasizes that nothing changes despite the extreme; 就 can emphasize an inevitable consequence.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Concessive: 再……也/就…… (让步复句：再……也/就……)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 让步复句：再……也/就…… pattern
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Understanding 让步复句：再……也/就……
This concessive pattern is a powerful rhetorical tool in advanced Chinese. When you say 再难也要坚持, you are saying "no matter how difficult it is, you must persist." The word 再 pushes the condition to its extreme — "even if it becomes even more [adjective]" — and 也 signals that the outcome is unaffected. This pattern conveys determination, resignation, or emphasis. It appears frequently in motivational speech, literary prose, and everyday expressions of resolve. The 就 variant tends to appear when stating a logical consequence or decision: 再不走就来不及了 (If we don't leave now, it will be too late).
Key Points
- 再 + Adj + 也 + VP: "no matter how [adj], still..." — e.g., 再忙也要吃饭 (No matter how busy, you must eat).
- 再 + V + 也 + 不/没 + Result: "no matter how much one [verbs], still cannot..." — e.g., 再怎么解释也没用 (No matter how you explain, it's useless).
- 再 + 不 + V + 就 + Consequence: "if [someone] still doesn't [verb], then..." — e.g., 再不出发就迟到了 (If we don't set off now, we'll be late).
- This pattern often conveys strong emotion: determination, frustration, or warning.
- 再怎么 is a common intensified variant meaning "no matter how" — 再怎么努力也赶不上他.
- Do not confuse this concessive 再 with the sequential 再 meaning "then / after that."
Chinese proverbs and motivational sayings frequently use this pattern. The expression 再苦也不能苦孩子 (No matter how hard life is, don't let the children suffer) reflects the deep cultural value of prioritizing children's well-being.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
工作再忙，也要注意身体。
No matter how busy work is, you must take care of your health.
A common piece of advice in Chinese culture
这道题再难也得做出来。
No matter how hard this problem is, you have to solve it.
他再怎么解释，她也不相信。
No matter how he explains, she doesn't believe him.
再不出发就来不及了。
If we don't set off now, it'll be too late.
你再有钱，也买不到健康。
No matter how rich you are, you can't buy health.
这件事再怎么说也是他的错。
No matter how you look at it, it's his fault.
再不努力就真的来不及了。
If you don't work harder now, it really will be too late.
Common Mistakes
In this concessive pattern, 也 is the correct connector, not 还. 还 does not carry the concessive meaning of "even so."
Use 再 (not 又) for the concessive "no matter how" pattern. 又 means "again" for past repetition and cannot push a condition to its hypothetical extreme.
When 再不 introduces a warning about an imminent consequence, use 就 (not 也). 就 signals the logical, inevitable result.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Think of 再 as a dial turned to maximum: "even if this quality reaches its peak, the result still holds."
The 再不……就…… pattern is especially useful for urgent warnings — practice it for everyday scenarios like catching a bus or meeting a deadline.
When you hear 再怎么说 in conversation, it often means "at any rate / no matter what" — a useful filler for nuanced discussion.
Pair this pattern with emotions: 再生气也不能打人 (No matter how angry you are, you can't hit someone).
Homework
Write four sentences using 再……也…… to express determination or resignation, and two sentences using 再不……就…… to express urgent warnings. Use real-life scenarios such as study deadlines, health advice, or travel plans.