Difference between revisions of "Expressing contrariness with "dao""
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倒 (dào) can be used to express something is contrary to expectations, acting as a turning point in the sentence. It is generally followed by a positive comment. | 倒 (dào) can be used to express something is contrary to expectations, acting as a turning point in the sentence. It is generally followed by a positive comment. | ||
| + | == Using 倒 as "However" == | ||
| − | + | 倒 can be used to express an unexpected situation. Note that 倒 is often followed by 也 or 又 to add further emphasis. | |
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| − | Note that 倒 is often followed by 也 or 又 to add further emphasis. | ||
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | + | ⋯⋯ ，Subj. + 倒 + (也 / 又) ⋯⋯ | |
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</div> | </div> | ||
=== Examples === | === Examples === | ||
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| + | Sometimes "actually" works well in translations to indicate the contrast between expectation and reality. | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * | + | |
| − | *他 不 是 很 努力 | + | *我 帮 他， <em>倒</em> 不 是 因为 喜欢 他，是 因为 他 工作 很 努力 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ bāng tā, <em>dào</em> bù shì yīnwèi xǐhuan tā, shì yīnwèi tā gōngzuò hěn nǔlì.</span><span class="trans">I helped him not because I liked him, but because he worked very hard.</span> |
| − | *已经 是 春天 了，<em>倒</em> 又 冷 起来 了。<span class="trans">It's already spring, but it's getting | + | *他 不 是 很 努力 ，成绩 <em>倒</em> 也 不错 。<span class="pinyin">Tā bù shì hěn nǔlì, chéngjì <em>dào</em> yě bùcuò.</span><span class="trans">He's not very hard-working, but his scores also aren't bad.</span> |
| − | *不 吃 | + | *已经 是 春天 了，<em>倒</em> 又 冷 起来 了。<span class="pinyin">Yǐjīng shì chūntiān le, <em>dào</em> yòu lěng qǐlái le.</span><span class="trans">It's already spring, but it's actually getting colder.</span> |
| − | *他 | + | *不 吃 药 ，病 <em>倒</em> 慢慢 好 了。<span class="pinyin">Bù chī yào, bìng <em>dào</em> mànman hǎo le.</span><span class="trans">Without taking any medicine, I'm actually slowly getting better.</span> |
| + | *英语 不 是 他 的 母语 ，他 说 得 <em>倒</em> 挺 地道 的 。<span class="pinyin">Yīngyǔ bù shì tā de mǔyǔ, tā shuō de <em>dào</em> tǐng dìdao de.</span><span class="trans">English is not his mother language, but he speaks quite native-like.</span> | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
| − | + | == Using 倒 as "Despite" == | |
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| − | == 倒 | ||
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
| − | 倒 can also be used to express a concession, | + | 倒 can also be used to express a concession, mostly emphasizing the positive side. 就是、但是、可是、不过 are often used to precede the undesirable reality the speaker is calling attention to. |
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | Subj. | + | Subj. + 倒 ⋯⋯ ，不过 / 但是 / 就是 ⋯⋯ |
</div> | </div> | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * | + | *我 <em>倒</em> 是 想 去 旅游 ，<strong>但是</strong> 现在 太 忙 了，没有 时间 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>dào</em> shì xiǎng qù lǚyóu, dànshì xiànzài tài máng le, méiyǒu shíjiān.</span><span class="trans">I do want to go on a trip, but I am too busy to do so now.</span> |
| − | *你们 | + | *这 篇 文章 的 内容 <em>倒</em> 不错 ，<strong>就是</strong> 太 长 了 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè piān wénzhāng de nèiróng <em>dào</em> bùcuò, <strong>jiùshì</strong> tài cháng le.</span><span class="trans">The content of this article is great, but it's just too long.</span> |
| − | * | + | *这 件 衣服 的 样式 和 大小 <em>倒</em> 都 合适 ，<strong>可是</strong> 我 不 喜欢 这 个 颜色 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn yīfu de yàngshì hé dàxiǎo <em>dào</em> dōu héshì, <strong>kěshì</strong> wǒ bù xǐhuan zhège yánsè.</span><span class="trans">The style and size of this piece of clothing actually work well, but I don't like the color.</span> |
| + | *你们 的 服务 <em>倒</em> 不错 ，<strong>但是</strong> 对 我 来说 太 贵 了 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen de fúwù <em>dào</em> bùcuò, <strong>dànshì</strong> duì wǒ lái shuō tài guì le.</span><span class="trans">Your service is great, but it's too expensive for me.</span> | ||
| + | *我 <em>倒</em> 想 陪 你 一起 去 ，<strong>不过</strong> 要 等 到 周末 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>dào</em> xiǎng péi nǐ yīqǐ qù, <strong>bùguò</strong> yào děngdào zhōumò.</span><span class="trans">I really would like to go with you, but you would need to wait until the weekend.</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | + | For more on [[倒]], be sure to check our C1 grammar point on even more [[Advanced usages of the contrary "dao"|advanced uses of 倒]]. | |
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| − | + | == See also == | |
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*[[Expressing contrariness with "dao"]] | *[[Expressing contrariness with "dao"]] | ||
*[[The "However" Adverb "que"]] | *[[The "However" Adverb "que"]] | ||
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=== Books === | === Books === | ||
| − | + | {{Source|HSK Standard Course 4下|89}} | |
| − | + | {{Source|Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) |140-3}} | |
| + | {{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 5 (新实用汉语课本5)|52}} | ||
| + | {{Source|HSK Standard Course 5上|64}} | ||
[[Category: B2 grammar points]] | [[Category: B2 grammar points]] | ||
| + | {{HSK|HSK4}} | ||
{{Basic Grammar|倒|B2|倒⋯⋯|雨 没有 停 ， <em>倒</em> 大 起来 了 。|grammar point|ASG1RE80}} | {{Basic Grammar|倒|B2|倒⋯⋯|雨 没有 停 ， <em>倒</em> 大 起来 了 。|grammar point|ASG1RE80}} | ||
{{Similar|The "However" Adverb "que"}} | {{Similar|The "However" Adverb "que"}} | ||
{{Similar|"On the Contrary" with "fan'er"}} | {{Similar|"On the Contrary" with "fan'er"}} | ||
{{Similar|Conceding a Point with "shi"}} | {{Similar|Conceding a Point with "shi"}} | ||
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{{Used for|Contrasting}} | {{Used for|Contrasting}} | ||
{{Structure|"But" Statements}} | {{Structure|"But" Statements}} | ||
{{Translation|however}} | {{Translation|however}} | ||
Latest revision as of 06:44, 17 December 2020
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Keywords
倒 (dào) can be used to express something is contrary to expectations, acting as a turning point in the sentence. It is generally followed by a positive comment.
Contents
Using 倒 as "However"
倒 can be used to express an unexpected situation. Note that 倒 is often followed by 也 or 又 to add further emphasis.
Structure
⋯⋯ ，Subj. + 倒 + (也 / 又) ⋯⋯
Examples
Sometimes "actually" works well in translations to indicate the contrast between expectation and reality.
- 我 帮 他， 倒 不 是 因为 喜欢 他，是 因为 他 工作 很 努力 。I helped him not because I liked him, but because he worked very hard.
- 他 不 是 很 努力 ，成绩 倒 也 不错 。He's not very hard-working, but his scores also aren't bad.
- 已经 是 春天 了，倒 又 冷 起来 了。It's already spring, but it's actually getting colder.
- 不 吃 药 ，病 倒 慢慢 好 了。Without taking any medicine, I'm actually slowly getting better.
- 英语 不 是 他 的 母语 ，他 说 得 倒 挺 地道 的 。English is not his mother language, but he speaks quite native-like.
Using 倒 as "Despite"
Structure
倒 can also be used to express a concession, mostly emphasizing the positive side. 就是、但是、可是、不过 are often used to precede the undesirable reality the speaker is calling attention to.
Subj. + 倒 ⋯⋯ ，不过 / 但是 / 就是 ⋯⋯
Examples
- 我 倒 是 想 去 旅游 ，但是 现在 太 忙 了，没有 时间 。I do want to go on a trip, but I am too busy to do so now.
- 这 篇 文章 的 内容 倒 不错 ，就是 太 长 了 。The content of this article is great, but it's just too long.
- 这 件 衣服 的 样式 和 大小 倒 都 合适 ，可是 我 不 喜欢 这 个 颜色 。The style and size of this piece of clothing actually work well, but I don't like the color.
- 你们 的 服务 倒 不错 ，但是 对 我 来说 太 贵 了 。Your service is great, but it's too expensive for me.
- 我 倒 想 陪 你 一起 去 ，不过 要 等 到 周末 。I really would like to go with you, but you would need to wait until the weekend.
For more on 倒, be sure to check our C1 grammar point on even more advanced uses of 倒.
See also
- Expressing contrariness with "dao"
- The "However" Adverb "que"
- "On the Contrary" with "fan'er"
- Conceding a Point with "shi"
Sources and further reading
Books
- HSK Standard Course 4下 (pp. 89) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp. 140-3) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- New Practical Chinese Reader 5 (新实用汉语课本5) (pp. 52) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- HSK Standard Course 5上 (pp. 64) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
