Difference between revisions of "Expressing "although" with "suiran" and "danshi""
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| − | *<em>虽然</em> ，<em>但是</em> 他 | + | *<em>虽然</em> 爷爷 已经 五十 多 了 ，<em>但是</em> 他 精神 很 好 。 <span class="trans">Although grandpa is old, he look very well.</span> |
| − | *<em>虽然</em> 她 说 不 太 | + | *<em>虽然</em> 她 说 不 太 饿 ，<em>但是</em> 她 点 了 很 多 菜 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> tā shuō bù tài è, <em>dànshì</em> tā diǎn le hěn duō cài.</span><span class="trans">Even though she said she isn't hungry, she ordered a lot of food.</span> |
| − | *<em>虽然</em> 他 | + | *<em>虽然</em> 他 家 很 有钱，<em>可是</em> 他 从来 不 浪费 钱 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, <em>kěshì</em> tā cónglái bù làngfèi qián.</span><span class="trans">Even though his family is rich, he never wastes money.</span> |
| + | *<em>虽然</em> 这 次 考试 不 重要 ，<em>但是</em> 我 也 要 好好 准备 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> zhè cì kǎoshì bù zhòngyào, <em>dànshì</em> wǒ yě yào hǎohǎo zhǔnbèi.</span><span class="trans">Although | ||
| + | this exam is not important, I'm going to prepare well anyway.</span> | ||
| + | *<em>虽然</em> ，<em>但是</em> 。 <span class="trans">Although .</span> | ||
| + | *这 件 衣服 <em>虽然</em> 很 贵 ，<em>但是</em> 质量 很 好 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn yīfu <em>suīrán</em> hěn guì, <em>dànshì</em> zhìliàng hěn hǎo.</span><span class="trans">Although this piece of clothing is expensive, the quality is pretty good.</span> | ||
| + | *<em>虽然</em> 他 已经 在 上海 住 了 两 年 了 ，<em>但是</em> 还 不太 了解 这个 城市 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> tā yǐjīng zài Shànghǎi zhù le liǎng nián le, <em> dànshì</em> hái bù tài liǎojiě zhège chéngshì.</span><span class="trans">Although he's been living Shanghai for two years, he still doesn't know much about this city.</span> | ||
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Revision as of 09:31, 28 August 2017
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The grammar pattern "虽然⋯⋯ 但是⋯⋯" (suīrán... dànshì...) is one of the most common used patterns in Chinese, especially in written Chinese. You can think of it as meaning "although," but unlike in English, you still need to follow it with a "but" word in Chinese.
Structure
"虽然(suīrán) ⋯⋯ ，但是(dànshì) ⋯⋯ " expresses that while the former part of the sentence is true, there is an adverse reaction in the latter part.
虽然 ⋯⋯ ，但是 ⋯⋯
Simply put, the pattern means, although..., but... In English, you wouldn't normally need the "but" there, but it is required in Chinese. Be aware that "可是" can be used interchangeably with "但是" for the "but" part.
Examples
- 虽然 爷爷 已经 五十 多 了 ，但是 他 精神 很 好 。 Although grandpa is old, he look very well.
- 虽然 她 说 不 太 饿 ，但是 她 点 了 很 多 菜 。Even though she said she isn't hungry, she ordered a lot of food.
- 虽然 他 家 很 有钱，可是 他 从来 不 浪费 钱 。Even though his family is rich, he never wastes money.
- 虽然 这 次 考试 不 重要 ，但是 我 也 要 好好 准备 。Although
this exam is not important, I'm going to prepare well anyway.
- 虽然 ，但是 。 Although .
- 这 件 衣服 虽然 很 贵 ，但是 质量 很 好 。Although this piece of clothing is expensive, the quality is pretty good.
- 虽然 他 已经 在 上海 住 了 两 年 了 ，但是 还 不太 了解 这个 城市 。 Although he's been living Shanghai for two years, he still doesn't know much about this city.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 115-6) →buy
- Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) (pp. 217) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 245) →buy
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 256-7) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 177) →buy
