Grammar

HSK 7-9 · Phrases › Fixed phrases › Discourse markers

HSK 7-9 Fixed Phrase and Discourse Marker: 无论如何 (wúlùnrúhé)

At the advanced HSK 7-9 level, 无论如何 (wúlùnrúhé) is classified as a fixed phrase functioning as a discourse marker meaning 'no matter what,' 'under any circumstances,' or 'in any case.' It signals either unwavering determination despite obstacles or a pragmatic shift in discourse to state a bottom-line conclusion.

无论如何， Subject （也 / 都） Predicate / Main Clause

Example sentence

虽然目前的资金缺口很大，但无论如何，我们都得在年底前完成第一阶段的研发。

Suīrán mùqián de zījīn quēkǒu hěn dà, dàn wúlùnrúhé, wǒmen dōu děi zài niándǐ qián wánchéng dì-yī jiēduàn de yánfā.

Although the current funding gap is very large, no matter what, we must complete the first phase of R&D before the end of the year.

Used after 但 (but) and followed by 都得 (must in any case) to express firm determination despite a major obstacle.

Read the full explanation and examples

Overview and Pragmatic Meaning

In the official HSK 7-9 examination outline, 无论如何 (wúlùnrúhé) is listed under Fixed Phrases (固定短语) and subcategorized as a discourse marker (话语标记).

In the discourse-marker reading, learn 无论如何 as a four-character unit meaning “in any case” or “no matter what”. It needs no additional question word. The same characters can also be part of a fuller 无论 + 如何… conditional phrase, so context matters when more descriptive material follows.

Two useful functions are expressing a firm commitment despite possible difficulties, and setting aside complications to state an assessment or closing remark. 无论如何 can make a stance sound decisive; it does not prove the stance or make a rule objectively unchangeable.

Sentence Positions and Collocations

When acting primarily as a discourse marker that manages the flow of an argument, 无论如何 typically appears at the beginning of a sentence or right after a conjunction like 但 (dàn, 'but') or 不过 (búguò, 'however'), often set off by a comma. In this position, it dismisses the complexity of the previous clause and directs the listener's attention to the core takeaway.

无论如何， Subject （也 / 都） Predicate / Main Clause

虽然目前的资金缺口很大，但无论如何，我们都得在年底前完成第一阶段的研发。

Suīrán mùqián de zījīn quēkǒu hěn dà, dàn wúlùnrúhé, wǒmen dōu děi zài niándǐ qián wánchéng dì-yī jiēduàn de yánfā.

Although the current funding gap is very large, no matter what, we must complete the first phase of R&D before the end of the year.

Used after 但 (but) and followed by 都得 (must in any case) to express firm determination despite a major obstacle.

双方在细节上还有很多分歧。无论如何，能坐下来谈判本身就是一个积极的信号。

Shuāngfāng zài xìjié shang hái yǒu hěn duō fēnqí. Wúlùnrúhé, néng zuò xiàlái tánpàn běnshēn jiù shì yí gè jījí de xìnhào.

Both sides still have many differences on the details. In any case, being able to sit down and negotiate is in itself a positive signal.

The speaker sets aside the disagreements to present negotiation itself as a positive sign. This is the assessment being advanced, not a fact made undeniable by 无论如何.

When emphasizing the subject's personal determination, obligation, or refusal, 无论如何 frequently moves inside the clause right after the subject and before the verb or modal verb. In both positions, it strongly favors pairing with 都 (dōu) or 也 (yě) in the predicate—especially when followed by negation (如：无论如何也不……) or a strong modal of necessity (如：无论如何都得 / 都要……). When softening a transition to a polite conclusion, it often pairs with 还是 (háishi).

Subject 无论如何（也 / 都） Predicate / Main Clause

这涉及到商业机密，我无论如何也不能向外界透露半个字。

Zhè shèjídào shāngyè jīmì, wǒ wúlùnrúhé yě bù néng xiàng wàijiè tòulù bàn gè zì.

This involves trade secrets; under no circumstances can I disclose a single word to the outside world.

Placed after the subject 我 and paired with 也不能 to express a categorical refusal.

很遗憾这次没能达成合作，但无论如何，还是要感谢贵团队这几个月的辛勤付出。

Hěn yíhàn zhè cì méi néng dáchéng hézuò, dàn wúlùnrúhé, háishi yào gǎnxiè guì tuánduì zhè jǐ gè yuè de xīnqín fùchū.

It is a pity we could not reach a partnership this time, but in any event, we still want to thank your team for your hard work over these past few months.

Paired with 还是要 to pivot politely from an unsuccessful outcome to a warm expression of gratitude.

Register and Natural Situations

Because both 无论 and 如何 belong to a slightly elevated, literate vocabulary layer, 无论如何 carries a neutral-to-formal register. However, it is completely natural in spoken Mandarin whenever the speaker wants to sound serious, decisive, or diplomatic.

High-stakes negotiation or crisis management: Stating a non-negotiable bottom line or deadline when resources or conditions are unfavorable.
Diplomatic and professional communication: Acknowledging a failure, disagreement, or cancellation while pivoting to express goodwill, appreciation, or a silver lining.
Categorical refusal or moral stance: Declaring that one will never cross a boundary (often with 也不能 or 都不会).
Editorial and argumentative writing: setting aside competing viewpoints to assert a principle the writer regards as applicable in either case.

Useful Contrasts: 不管怎样 and 总之

Advanced learners often need to choose between 无论如何 and two closely related expressions: 不管怎样 (bùguǎn zěnyàng / 不管怎么说) and 总之 (zǒngzhī).

无论如何 and 不管怎样 overlap in “no matter what” and “in any case” uses. 无论如何 can sound more formal or emphatic, but both occur in speech and writing. They each have four syllables, so the choice is not based on one being shorter. 不管怎么说 is another conversational way to qualify a conclusion.

总之 announces a summary; it can summarize mixed or conflicting material as well as reasons that all point one way. 无论如何 says that a conclusion remains relevant despite the alternatives or complications. The functions differ but are not logically opposite, and sometimes either is possible with a change in emphasis.

这个方案成本低、见效快，而且风险可控；总之，我建议立即执行。

Zhège fāng'àn chéngběn dī, jiànxiào kuài, érqiě fēngxiǎn kěkòng; zǒngzhī, wǒ jiànyì lìjí zhíxíng.

This plan is low-cost, quick to show results, and has controllable risks; in short, I suggest executing it immediately.

Contrasting example using 总之: here the speaker summarizes aligned positive reasons rather than brushing aside obstacles with 无论如何.

Frequently asked questions

Do I always have to use 都 or 也 after 无论如何?

No. 都 and 也 are useful and common, but omission is possible inside the clause too: 这件事我无论如何要完成. In the discourse-marker use, a following assessment or 还是 clause may also have no 都 or 也. Choose the whole sentence for its meaning and rhythm.

Can 如何 still have a “how” meaning after 无论?

Yes, distinguish two readings. In the fixed marker 无论如何, the phrase means “in any case”. In a fuller conditional phrase, 如何 can still mean “how” or “to what degree”, as in 无论如何困难，都要继续. For “no matter how difficult”, 无论多么困难 is a particularly clear learner choice. Do not infer the reading from the four characters alone.

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