[Vocabulary] What does ‘even so’ mean？

[LiuJing]

Just a Couple of Guys Grabbing Burgers - The Caucus Blog - NYTimes.com

Last few lines：
Mr. Medvedev is traveling in the United States this week to promote economic cooperation between the two countries. Even so, Mr. Obama picked up the check.

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Does the usage of 'even so' here imply the bill was not supposed to be paid by Mr Obama? Thank you.

 

[emsr2d2]

Just a Couple of Guys Grabbing Burgers - The Caucus Blog - NYTimes.com

Last few lines：
Mr. Medvedev is traveling in the United States this week to promote economic cooperation between the two countries. Even so, Mr. Obama picked up the check.

-----------------------------------------------------

Does the usage of 'even so' here imply the bill was not supposed to be paid by Mr Obama? Thank you.

It means "despite that fact". In this context, it's amusing that the two leaders were meant to be promoting "economic cooperation" (which would suggest that they should have paid half the bill each as that is more fair!), but Mr Obama chose to pay the entire bill himself.

 

[LiuJing]

It means "despite that fact". In this context, it's amusing that the two leaders were meant to be promoting "economic cooperation" (which would suggest that they should have paid half the bill each as that is more fair!), but Mr Obama chose to pay the entire bill himself.

Yes, I have got the quip in these lines. My Chinese mindset couldn't reach that far as yours to understand it. I thought it would be very natural for Obama to give a visiting guest a treat. That is why I did not quite get it first. Thanks a lot.

 

[TheParser]

Just a Couple of Guys Grabbing Burgers - The Caucus Blog - NYTimes.com

Last few lines：
Mr. Medvedev is traveling in the United States this week to promote economic cooperation between the two countries. Even so, Mr. Obama picked up the check.

-----------------------------------------------------

Does the usage of 'even so' here imply the bill was not supposed to be paid by Mr Obama? Thank you.

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello, LiuJing.

(1) Without reading the blog, and basing my answer only on the two

quoted lines, I think that maybe it means something such as:

Messrs. Obama and Medvedev are equal partners. NEVERTHELESS/

REGARDLESS OF THAT FACT, Mr. Obama picked up the check.

(2) For example, in the United States, men and women are equal. EVEN



SO, men are expected to open the door for a woman. They are

equals, but there still are differences that we recognize through courteous

behavior such as opening doors. On busses, however, many (most) men

do not in my city give up their bus seats to women -- unless the women

are elderly.

(3) I think that the blog writer forgot one thing: President Medvedev was

our guest. So it was only right that President Obama should pick up the

bill. It had nothing to do with their equal status. I do not understand why

the blog writer even wrote that "even so" line. Of course, writers have

to write something every day in order to make a living. So we should be

very understanding.

***** Thank you for your question *****

 

[LiuJing]

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello, LiuJing.

(1) Without reading the blog, and basing my answer only on the two

quoted lines, I think that maybe it means something such as:

Messrs. Obama and Medvedev are equal partners. NEVERTHELESS/

REGARDLESS OF THAT FACT, Mr. Obama picked up the check.

(2) For example, in the United States, men and women are equal. EVEN



SO, men are expected to open the door for a woman. They are

equals, but there still are differences that we recognize through courteous

behavior such as opening doors. On busses, however, many (most) men

do not in my city give up their bus seats to women -- unless the women

are elderly.

(3) I think that the blog writer forgot one thing: President Medvedev was

our guest. So it was only right that President Obama should pick up the

bill. It had nothing to do with their equal status. I do not understand why

the blog writer even wrote that "even so" line. Of course, writers have

to write something every day in order to make a living. So we should be

very understanding.

***** Thank you for your question *****

So, through the blogger's 'even so' line, you did sense kind of discontent arising from his belief that the bill should not have been entirely paid for by President Obama. Is that correct?

 

[TheParser]

So, through the blogger's 'even so' line, you did sense kind of discontent arising from his belief that the bill should not have been entirely paid for by President Obama. Is that correct?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Hello, LiuJing.

(1) Great question.

(2) I do not know how to answer it.

(3) Since the blogger used "even so," it does show some kind of

"sarcastic" attitude on the part of the blogger:

The two guys are equal, yet it was Mr. Obama who paid the bill.

As we say in English, the blogger was making a mountain out of a

molehill. The Russian president was our guest!!! Did the blogger expect

our guest to pay? Absurd!

(4) I think you're right: the blogger's "even so" line does express a

sort of discontent or astonishment or sarcasm.

***** Thank you for your question *****