Chinese Language Learning Program Lesson 197 -- The difference between “即” and “既” in Chinese

Chinese Language Learning Program

Lesson 197 – The difference between “即” and “既” in Chinese

 Hello, everyone. Welcome back. This is Baixue’s Chinese Language Learning Program. Last time we learned some words for keep promise in Chinese. Today, we will learn the difference between “即” and “既” in Chinese.

jí

即

Adj. : the same (day, etc.); immediate; at present; in the immediate future

 jí  rì

即日 (this very day; immediate; at present)

běn guī dìng  zì  jí rì qǐ shí shī.

 本    规    定   自即日起   实  施.

(The provision takes effect as from today.)

Adv. : promptly; at once

 lì  jí                                                jí  kè

立即 (Immediately, at once)     即 刻 (Immediately, promptly)

 jí  jiāng

即   将 (soon)

wǒ bù néng lì  jí dá fù nǐ de wèn tí.

 我  不    能  立即 答 复 你 的  问  题。

(I can not answer your questions immediately.)

wǒ jí kè jiù dào.

 我即 刻  就  到。(I will be there in no time.)

 nǐ de zhòng dà shí kè jí jiāng dào lái.

你  的     重     大  时 刻 即  将     到   来。

(Your big moment is coming.)

Conjunction:  even; even if

 jí shǐ míng tiān xià yǔ,  wǒ men yě yào jì xù gōng zuò.

即  使   明     天   下  雨，我    们   也   要 继 续    工     作。

(Even if it should rain tomorrow, we will continue our work.)

 jí biàn

即  便 (even if; even though)

rú guǒ wǒ nǔ lì le,   jí biàn shì méi yǒu kǎo dì yī, mā mā yě

如   果  我   努力了,  即  便    是   没    有   考   第一, 妈   妈  也

bù huì mán yuàn wǒ de.

不   会   埋      怨    我  的。

(If I tried, even if I did not get the first place, my Mom will not blame me.)

 jì

既

adv.   Already

yī yán jì chū,  sì mǎ nán zhuī.

一  言 既  出，驷 马    难     追。

(A word once spoken cannot be overtaken even by a team of four horses; What is said cannot be unsaid; A promise cannot be taken back once it is made.)

Conjunction:   since ； as ； both ...and ； as well as

 jì rán

既 然 (since; as; now that; in as much)

 jì rán nǐ bù xiǎng tīng, wǒ jiù bù gào sù nǐ le.

既 然  你 不    想      听，我  就  不   告   诉 你了。

(I will not tell you since you do not want to listern.)

 jì rán nǐ huí dā bù chū zhè ge wèn tí,  wǒ jiù wèn bié rén le.

既 然  你  回  答  不   出   这   个   问 题,  我   就   问   别   人 了。

(Since you can't answer the question, I'll ask someone else.  )

Used with “and ” or meaning as “not only….but also….”

 tā jì tān lán yòu zì sī.

她 既 贪  婪    又 自 私。(She is greedy and selfish.)

tā lái de zhèng hǎo,  jì  bù zǎo yě bù wǎn.

他 来 的     正      好，既 不   早  也  不   晚。

(He came just at the right time, neither too early nor too late.)

tā   jì  yǒu qù yòu cōng míng.

他  既  有   趣   又     聪      明。

(He’s not only funny, but also he’s intelligent.)

Ok, that is all for today.

xiè xiè!

 谢  谢 ! (Thanks!)

xià cì jiàn

 下 次 见!  (See you next time!)