"再....也...." This structure used as "even if, no matter how"

[sonia.hanyu]

In my lessons book there is this explanation:

 

The structure "再....也...." is usually used in a hypothetical sentence indicating concession. 再 can be followed by a verb, an adjective or a sentence etc, meaning "even if, no matter how" . For example

 

事情已经发生了，你再后悔也无法改变，别伤心了。

 

Please, can anyone offer further examples and explanations? How exactly use it? Comparative usages with 即使 and 就是?

 

Thank you

[陳德聰]

再 ... Means "more ... "

The construction you're asking about basically means "even if you were more A, the result would still be B". It implies you are already quite A, perhaps even close to the most possible A you could be, but it simply doesn't affect or can't affect the status of B.

這個問題沒有答案啊，你再聰明也解決不了！

This question doesn't have a solution, you couldn't solve it even if you were smarter/it doesn't matter how smart you are, you wouldn't be able to solve it anyway.

這個問題沒有答案啊，即使你很聰明，你也解決不了！

This question doesn't have a solution, even if you were smart (which you're not), you wouldn't be able to solve it.

[艾墨本]

So, 再。。。也。。。 in contrast to 即使。。。也。。。 takes a hypothetical extreme to prove the point where as the latter takes a fact to prove the point. The "point" is what follows 也.

 

Am I right in that summary?

[陳德聰]

Not quite. Both are hypothetical. 即使 can only be followed by a hypothetical, meaning whatever follows cannot be true/a fact. It's just that 再 is comparative, so even in the hypothetical it allows for you to at least be a little smart whereas 即使 excludes you from being smart.