1.
supposing; assuming; hypothetically
Used to introduce a hypothetical situation for discussion or consideration.
2.
even if; even supposing
Used to introduce a concessive condition, often followed by ても.
仮に sets up a supposition the speaker is not asserting — 'suppose that', 'let's say'. It is placed at the head of the clause and is picked up later by a conditional ending, so it never stands alone.
Formation: 仮 'provisional, tentative' + に, the particle that makes it adverbial.
Two patterns, differing in what follows:
- 仮に〜たら / 〜ば: pure supposition — 'supposing X happened, then…' (examples 1–3)
- 仮に〜としても / 〜ても: concessive — 'even granting X, still…' (examples 4–6)
The second pattern is the more distinctive one: it concedes a premise for the sake of argument and then rejects the conclusion drawn from it, which makes 仮に common in debate and written reasoning.