How to Say “Even Though” with 尽管 (jǐnguǎn)
尽管 (jǐnguǎn) here is the concessive “although / even though / despite”: 尽管 + [a real fact]，(还是 / 但 / 却 / 仍然) + [what happens anyway]. 尽管很累，他还是坚持跑完了 (“even though he was tired, he still finished the run”). It's close to 虽然, just a shade more emphatic and more common in writing. Unlike English, Chinese keeps both connectors (尽管…但…). The same 尽管 before a bare verb means “feel free,” not “although.”
Why this trips learners up
This 尽管 (jǐnguǎn) is the concessive conjunction “although / even though / despite.” You put it in front of a real fact, then state what happens in spite of it: 尽管 + [fact]，(还是 / 但 / 却 / 仍然) + [result]. 尽管很累，他还是坚持跑完了 (“even though he was tired, he still finished the run”), 尽管大家都反对，她却坚持自己的决定 (“even though everyone objected, she stuck to her decision”). It's a close relative of 虽然, just a shade stronger and more formal, so it feels at home in writing and leans toward “despite the fact that.”
The second clause almost always carries an answering marker: 还是 (“still”), 但 / 但是 (“but”), 却 (“yet”), or 仍然 (“nonetheless”). This is the point where English speakers slip. In English you say “although X, Y,” never “although X, but Y,” but Chinese keeps both halves: 尽管…但… and 尽管…还是… are correct and normal. So the “double” connector isn't a mistake to avoid; it's the expected shape. Dropping it is possible, but reaching for 还是 or 但 is the natural move.
Two words to hold it against. First, its twin 虽然: the two are nearly interchangeable in a concessive sentence, and you can usually swap one for the other. The difference is register, 尽管 sounds a touch more emphatic and more written, 虽然 is the everyday word you'd say out loud. Second, its own homograph: the same 尽管, placed right before a verb, is the encouraging “feel free” (尽管问, “go ahead and ask”), not “although.” A clause after 尽管 means “although”; a bare verb after it means “feel free.”
Finally, two neighbours that look or feel similar but aren't. 不管 (bùguǎn, “no matter”) is one character away and easy to grab by mistake, but it needs a range of possibilities, not a stated fact: 不管天气好不好 (“no matter whether the weather's good”), whereas a plain fact takes 尽管: 尽管天气不好 (“even though the weather's bad”). And 即使 (jíshǐ, “even if”) is for a hypothetical: 即使明天下雨，我也去 (“even if it rains tomorrow, I'll still go”) talks about something that may not happen, while 尽管 is always about something real.
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
Examples in context
Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.
Tap a word to see its grammatical role.
jǐnguǎn 尽管 Pattern hěn lèi 很累， Other tā 他 Subject háishì 还是 Adverb hěn kāixīn 很开心 Other
Even though he was tired, he was still happy (尽管…还是).
jǐnguǎn 尽管 Pattern tiānqì bù hǎo 天气不好， Other wǒmen 我们 Subject háishì 还是 Adverb wán de hěn kāixīn 玩得很开心 Other
Even though the weather was bad, we still had a great time (尽管…还是).
jǐnguǎn 尽管 Pattern wǒ tíxǐng guo tā 我提醒过他， Other tā 他 Subject háishì 还是 Adverb wàng le 忘了 Verb
Even though I reminded him, he still forgot (尽管…还是, with a verb result).
jǐnguǎn 尽管 Pattern jiàgé hěn gāo 价格很高， Other zhè kuǎn shǒujī 这款手机 Subject mài de fēicháng hǎo 卖得非常好 Other
Despite the high price, this phone sells extremely well (尽管…, a "despite" result).
jǐnguǎn 尽管 Pattern tā hěn yǒu qián 他很有钱， Other dàn 但 Connector shēnghuó hěn jiǎndān 生活很简单 Other
Even though he's rich, he lives simply (尽管…但).
jǐnguǎn 尽管 Pattern kùnnan chóngchóng 困难重重， Other tāmen 他们 Subject zuìzhōng 最终 Adverb háishì 还是 Adverb wánchéng le rènwu 完成了任务 Verb
Despite all the difficulties, they ultimately completed the task (尽管…还是, formal).
jǐnguǎn 尽管 Pattern dàjiā dōu fǎnduì 大家都反对， Other tā 她 Subject què 却 Adverb jiānchí zìjǐ de juédìng 坚持自己的决定 Other
Even though everyone objected, she stuck to her decision (尽管…却).
jǐnguǎn 尽管 Pattern gōngsī qùnián kuīsǔn le 公司去年亏损了， Other guǎnlǐcéng 管理层 Subject réngrán 仍然 Adverb duì wèilái chōngmǎn xìnxīn 对未来充满信心 Other
Even though the company lost money last year, management remains confident about the future (尽管…仍然, written register).
Common mistakes
Why it happens: 尽管 introduces a stated fact, while 不管 (“no matter”) needs a range of possibilities. “Even though the weather was bad” is 尽管天气不好; 不管 would want alternatives, 不管天气好不好 (“no matter whether the weather is good or not”). For a single real fact, reach for 尽管.
Why it happens: Before a verb, 尽管 flips to “feel free” (尽管买 = “feel free to buy”). For “although,” 尽管 has to lead a whole clause, a described situation, not attach to the main verb: 尽管这个包很贵，我还是想买 (“even though the bag is expensive, I still want it”). Give the concessive 尽管 a clause to head.
Why it happens: 尽管 is for something real, so it clashes with a hypothetical. “Even if it rains tomorrow, I'll still go” is about a maybe, so it takes 即使: 即使明天下雨，我也去. Use 尽管 only when the situation is actually the case; for an “even if” supposition, use 即使.
Compare & contrast
| 尽管 (although: emphatic, at home in writing) | 虽然 (although: the everyday, neutral word) | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| 尽管他很忙，还是每天陪孩子jǐnguǎn tā hěn máng, háishì měitiān péi háizi = “even though he’s very busy, he still spends time with the kids every day” (尽管, a touch more emphatic) | 虽然他很忙，还是每天陪孩子suīrán tā hěn máng, háishì měitiān péi háizi = “although he’s very busy, he still spends time with the kids every day” (虽然, the everyday word) | 尽管他很忙，还是每天陪孩子 and 虽然他很忙，还是每天陪孩子 mean the same thing, “even though he's busy, he still spends time with the kids.” In most concessive sentences 尽管 and 虽然 swap freely; 尽管 just sounds a shade more emphatic and formal. |
| 尽管条件艰苦，团队仍然坚持了下来jǐnguǎn tiáojiàn jiānkǔ, tuánduì réngrán jiānchí le xiàlái = “despite the harsh conditions, the team still held on” (尽管 in its formal, written comfort zone) | 虽然今天有点冷，但阳光很好suīrán jīntiān yǒudiǎn lěng, dàn yángguāng hěn hǎo = “although it’s a bit cold today, the sun is lovely” (虽然 in everyday speech) | 尽管条件艰苦，团队仍然坚持了下来 shows 尽管 in its comfort zone, formal and written, often with 仍然. 虽然今天有点冷，但阳光很好 is the everyday 虽然 you'd say out loud. Same “although,” different register. |
Try it yourself
Say “Even though it was late, he was still working.” Lead with 尽管 and answer with 还是: 尽管很晚了，他还是在工作.
Related patterns
Quick reference card
How to Say “Even Though” with 尽管 (jǐnguǎn) grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.