Even if: -са да

In English, when we want to show that something will happen regardless of circumstances, we say: "Even if it rains, we'll go" or "Even though I'm tired, I'll keep working."

In Kyrgyz, these concessive meanings are expressed by combining the conditional mood -са (if) with the particle да, which in this construction acts as an intensifier of concession — "even under this condition." For more on particles, see the article Emotional particles го/да/эле.

🧠 Logic

The construction works logically: you set a condition ("if I get tired") and intensify it with the particle да — and you get "even if I get tired."

The literal translation of «Чарчасам да...» is: "Even on the condition that I get tired..."

🧮 Formula

Verb stem + conditional suffix -са-се-со-сө + personal ending + да

The conditional suffix is chosen according to vowel harmony:

Vowel group	Suffix	Example
а, я, ы, у, ю	-са	бар → барса да, ук → укса да
э, е, и	-се	кел → келсе да
о, ё	-со	бол → болсо да
ө, ү	-сө	көр → көрсө да

💡 Tip: In this construction the particle after the conditional form is written as да — because the conditional suffix ends in a vowel.

Conjugation by person

Person	Form	Translation
мен	барсам да	even if I go

барсам да
бар
root
са
conditional
м
I
да
even (particle)
→ even if I go

Negative form

Negation is placed before the conditional suffix using -ба/-бе/-бо/-бө/-па/-пе:

Person	Affirmative	Negative	Translation
мен	барсам да	барбасам да	even if I don't go

барбасам да
бар
root
ба
negation
са
conditional
м
I
да
even (particle)
→ even if I don't go

💡 Examples

In these sentences, the first part sets the concessive condition and the second part shows the result that happens anyway.

Example	Translation
Жамгыр жааса да, биз барабыз.	Even if it rains, we'll go.
Мен чарчасам да, ишти бүтүрөм.	Even though I'm tired, I'll finish the work.
Ал билбесе да, айтып жатат.	Even though he doesn't know, he keeps talking.
Биз кечиксек да, кирүүгө аракет кылабыз.	Even if we're late, we'll try to get in.
Баасы кымбат болсо да, сатып алам.	Even if the price is high, I'll buy it.

⚠️ Important notes

Action or thing?

1. Despite an ACTION? (Despite being tired / despite the rain falling)

Use the verb formula: -са да.

Example	Translation
Күн суук болсо да, ал жука кийинди.	Despite the cold, he dressed lightly.

2. Despite a THING? (Despite the rain / despite the weather)

If it's not about an action but about a thing or circumstance, use the word карабастан ("regardless of, despite"). The noun takes the dative case (-га/-ге):

Example	Translation
Суук аба ырайына карабастан, ал келди.	Despite the cold weather, he came.
Жамгырга карабастан...	Despite the rain...

🛑 Common mistake: ~~Жамгырса да~~ — this is wrong! It's either Жамгыр жааса да (with a verb), or Жамгырга карабастан (with a noun).

See also:

Introduction to verbs — the concept of stems and conjugation
Conditional mood — the basic -са/-се form
Emotional particles го/да/эле — the particle да
Vowel harmony — choosing the vowel in the suffix
Dative case — for the construction with карабастан

📑Contents