儘管

Despite (Formal)

Level 5Sounds Like zeon2 gun2

儘管 (zeon2 gun2) is a high-level, formal word used in two ways: 1) To say 'despite the fact that' (conjunction), and 2) To tell someone to 'feel free' to do something (adverb).

How It Works

1. Concessive Conjunction ('Despite')
When used as a conjunction, 儘管 (zeon2 gun2) introduces a fact that makes the outcome in the second clause surprising. It is more emphatic than 雖然.

  • Structure: (Subject) + 儘管 + (Subject) + [Fact], [Subject] + 依然 (ji1 jin4) + [Result].
  • Note: The subject placement is flexible; it can appear either before or after 儘管 (e.g., 佢儘管好忙... vs 儘管佢好忙...). Even though it means 'although', you will usually still hear a transition word like 依然 (ji1 jin4 - still) or 但係 (daan6 hai6 - but) in the second clause. Avoid using colloquial terms like '仲係' (zung6 hai6) here, as they clash with the formal tone of 儘管.

2. Permissive Adverb ('Feel free to')
In formal or polite contexts, it encourages someone to act without hesitation.

  • Structure: [Subject] + 儘管 + [Verb].
  • Note: This sounds very 'bookish'. In a restaurant or with friends, use the colloquial 即管 (zik1 gun2) instead.

3. Register and Tone
Because this pattern is heavily influenced by Standard Written Chinese, using it in a tea house or with family will sound unnaturally stiff. It is best reserved for presentations, formal emails, or academic contexts where a Formal Register is required.

Examples (3)

  1. 儘管面對重重困難，佢依然堅持到底。

    Despite facing numerous difficulties, he still persisted to the end.

    Word by Word: Despite face heavy-heavy difficulty, he still persist to end.

    This is a classic formal usage. 儘管 (zeon2 gun2) starts the sentence, and 依然 (ji1 jin4) 'still' connects the second clause.

  2. 你有咩問題，儘管問我。

    If you have any questions, feel free to ask me.

    Word by Word: You have what questions, feel-free ask me.

    Here, 儘管 (zeon2 gun2) acts as an adverb before the verb 'ask'. This is a polite, formal way to encourage questions.

  3. 儘管落大雨，佢都係要去行山。

    Despite the heavy rain, he still insists on going hiking.

    Word by Word: Despite fall big rain, he still is want go walk mountain.

    Even in slightly more 'spoken' contexts, 儘管 adds a layer of emphasis that the rain was a significant obstacle.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 儘管 for hypothetical 'even if' situations.

    儘管聽日落雨，我都會去。
    就算聽日落雨，我都會去。

    儘管 (zeon2 gun2) is for facts (even though it IS raining). For hypothetical situations (even IF it rains), use 就算 (zau6 syun3) or 即使 (zik1 si2).

  • Using 儘管 in casual conversation with friends.

    儘管好飽，我都要食甜品。
    雖然好飽，但我都要食甜品。

    儘管 (zeon2 gun2) is too formal for talking about dessert with friends. Use 雖然 (seoi1 jin4) for a natural, everyday tone.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

儘管Level 5Despite (Formal)

Learn This First

To understand 儘管 (despite/although), you first need to learn the basic 'although' structure (雖然...但係...) and the use of the adverb 都 (also/still) to link clauses. Since this is a formal pattern, understanding the difference between colloquial and written Cantonese is also helpful.

Words in This Pattern

尽管