尽管 (although)

• Pinyin: jǐnguǎn
• Formation: 尽管 + Concessive Clause ，但是 / 还是 + Main Clause
• Hanzi breakdown: 尽 = 尺 (ruler/measure) + 聿 (brush); 管 = 竹 (bamboo) + 官 (official)

Meaning

The conjunction 尽管 (jǐnguǎn) means 'although' or 'even though' and introduces a concessive clause. It is stronger and more emphatic than 虽然, emphasizing that the result holds true despite a significant obstacle or condition.

尽管 is used when the speaker wants to stress that something happened or is true regardless of a strong opposing factor. It is often paired with 但是, 可是, or 还是 in the main clause to complete the contrast. Compared to 虽然, 尽管 conveys a greater sense of resolve or emphasis — it suggests the obstacle mentioned is significant, yet the outcome remains unchanged. In formal writing, 尽管 can also mean 'feel free to' (as in 你尽管说, 'go ahead and speak'), but this is a separate usage. Learners should take care not to use both 虽然 and 尽管 in the same concessive clause, as they serve the same grammatical function.

Examples

1. 尽管天气很冷，他还是每天早上去跑步。 Although the weather is very cold, he still goes running every morning.
2. 尽管大家都反对，她还是坚持了自己的决定。 Even though everyone opposed it, she stuck with her decision.
3. 尽管路上堵车很严重，我们还是准时到了。 Despite the heavy traffic, we still arrived on time.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, formal speech

Tone: emphatic

Do Say

• 尽管工作压力很大，她从来不抱怨。
• 尽管我提醒过他很多次，他还是忘了带钥匙。
• 尽管条件很艰苦，团队还是完成了任务。

Don't Say

• 尽管虽然他很努力，但是没有成功。(Do not use 尽管 and 虽然 together — they serve the same function and are redundant) → 尽管他很努力，但是没有成功。
• 他尽管来了，但是很晚。(尽管 should be placed before the subject or at the beginning of the clause, not between the subject and verb) → 尽管他来了，但是很晚。
• 尽管下雨。(尽管 requires a main clause to complete the contrast — it cannot stand alone) → 尽管下雨了，我们还是出去了。

Origin & History

尽管 combines 尽 (to the fullest extent) and 管 (to care about/manage). The literal sense is 'even caring about it fully' — acknowledging the obstacle completely — which evolved into the concessive meaning of 'even though' or 'despite.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal