纵使 / 纵然【zòngshǐ / zòngrán】

纵使 and 纵然 mean "even if" in written Chinese. The first clause names an extreme case, and the second clause – with 也, 仍 or 亦 before its verb – says the outcome doesn't change. They are the literary counterparts of 即使.

再 + adjective in the first clause pushes the case to its limit: 再大, 再忙, 再好听.

也 in the second clause

The second clause needs 也, 仍(然) or 亦 before the predicate. 但 belongs to 虽然, which concedes a fact rather than a possibility.

• × 纵使下大雨，但比赛照常进行 → 纵使下大雨，比赛也照常进行

纵 on its own

纵 alone, usually before 有, is the most literary form: "even with", "for all the". It turns up in essays, song lyrics and headlines.

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即使 and 就算 do the same job in ordinary prose and speech. 纵使 and 纵然 mark a literary or heightened voice – a speech, a vow, a reflective essay.