Chinese word

便是

Pronunciation

Pinyinbiàn shì

Meaning

  • conjunctioneven if

Example

便是他，也帮不了她。biàn shì tā yě bāng bù liǎo tā

Even if it were him, he couldn't help her.

Illustration for 便是 (even if)

More examples

便是失败了，也要总结经验继续前进。biàn shì shī bài le yě yào zǒng jié jīng yàn jì xù qián jìn

Even if we fail, we should sum up our experience and keep moving forward.

Core concept

Marks a possible situation as unable to alter what follows.

Common phrases

  • 便是...也biàn shì yě

    even if ___ still

  • 便是这样biàn shì zhè yàng

    even if so

Similar words

即使jí shǐ: Even if something happens or is true, the following result still applies.
就算jiù suàn: Even if a situation really occurs, the final result remains unchanged.
哪怕nǎ pà: Even if the condition is as extreme as possible, the stated result still stands.
即便jí biàn: Even if a possible situation arises, the result does not change, especially in formal writing.

Definition in Chinese

表示让步或假设，常构成“便是……，也……”的句式，用来说明即便在某种情形下结论仍然成立。biǎo shì ràng bù huò jiǎ shè cháng gòu chéng biàn shì yě de jù shì yòng lái shuō míng jí biàn zài móu zhǒng qíng xíng xià jié lùn réng rán chéng lì

Word origin

便是 (biànshì, "even if") joins 便 (biàn, "then or if") + 是 (shì, "to be") to present a case whose outcome remains the same.

Usage tips

  • Its tone is formal and somewhat literary, so it appears more readily in writing, speeches, and serious narration than in relaxed everyday talk.

Other meanings

  • ifconjunction

Word lists with this word