即便 (jíbiàn) is a conjunction meaning “even if,” “even though,” or “although.” It clarifies that even though one condition exists, another contrasting condition is also true. 即便 (jíbiàn) is the advanced form of 即使 (jíshǐ), a common intermediate conjunction, and mostly appears in written Chinese.

即便 (jíbiàn) frequently conjoins two contrasting conditions or clauses in a sentence. When used in this way, it typically follows the below pattern:

Background Condition + 即便 (jíbiàn) + Counter Condition

Let’s look at an example:

In this sentence, the first clause introduces the background condition, “如今，简单的结婚方式更受欢迎,” or that simpler weddings are preferred nowadays, and works to contextualize the next clause.

Placed after “但,” “即便” helps to indicate a shift in thought and emphasizes the counter clause, “一些经典的习俗多多少少延续了下来,” which states that the fact that traditional customs remain preserved to some extent is still true regardless of the background condition.

Here’s another example:

In this sentence, the background condition, namely that “那个地区的人民过着幸福的生活,” appears as the first clause in the sentence. Because 即便 is used, we know that this statement will remain true regardless of the counter condition presented in the second clause, which is that “经济水平不够发达,” or that the economic condition of the area isn’t very good.

即便 is also commonly placed at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a background condition, which is followed by a counter condition accompanied by 还 (hái) or 也 (yě).

When used in this way, 即便 (jíbiàn) follows the below structure:

即便 (jíbiàn) + Background Condition + 还 (hái)／也 (yě) + Counter Condition

Let’s take another look at the example sentence above, now restructured to present 即便 (jíbiàn) at the beginning:

In both of the example sentences above, the meaning remains the same whether 即便 links the first and second clause, or appears at the beginning of the sentence.

视 ... 情况而定 (shì... qíngkuàng ér dìng) is a grammar pattern that suggests a decision, action or event will occur based on the terms of a separate circumstance. In this construction, 视 (shì) means “to consider,” 情况 (qíngkuàng) means “circumstance” or “situation,” and (ér dìng) means “to decide.”

Sentences with this pattern typically follow the below structure:

Subject + 视 (shì) + Modifying Phrase + 情况而定 (qíngkuàng ér dìng)

Let's look at an example:

In this example, the subject “讲座的日期,” or lecture date, will be decided by the modifying phrase “教授,” or the professor. This grammar pattern emphasizes that a decision cannot be made yet and will instead depend on an external factor.

Here’s another example:

In this example, the subject “回礼的多少,” or how much money the bride usually spends on the gift for her husband, depends on “女方的情况,” or her own financial situation.

Note that if the speaker wishes to express that something will be decided based on a general circumstance without specifying which circumstance that is, the modifying phrase between 视 and ​​情况而定 can be omitted. In this case, the full phrase 视情况而定 is used as a fixed expression to simply mean “it depends.”

For example:

In the example above, Speaker B uses the fixed response “视情况而定” to tell Speaker A that her question can’t be answered right now. Instead, wherever they spend the Lunar New Year will depend on the situation later on.

鉴于 (jiànyú) is a preposition that usually appears at the beginning of a sentence to introduce context, reasoning, or background information in the first clause. It is then followed by a result or effect in the second clause.

Sentences with 鉴于 typically follow the structure below:

鉴于 + Background Condition + Resulting Condition

Let’s look at an example:

In this example, 鉴于 is used to introduce important background information, namely “上次发生的错误,” or the mistakes that were made last time. Because 鉴于 (jiànyú) begins the sentence, we know that the first clause causes the result mentioned in the second clause, that is, “今后大家都要更慎重,” or that everyone needs to be more careful from now on.

Here’s another example:

Here, the preposition 鉴于 helps set the stage for the rest of the sentence by introducing important background information, “社会在不断进步,” or that society is rapidly changing.

This helps us understand that the second clause, “或许中国的婚礼习俗还会有所改变,” or the fact that wedding customs in China will continue to change, is influenced by the country’s larger trend of ongoing social progress as introduced previously.