Difference between revisions of "The "however" adverb "que""

 
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Normally the first clause above makes a statement, and then the second clause introduces something contrary, generally in the form of a negative comment.
 
Normally the first clause above makes a statement, and then the second clause introduces something contrary, generally in the form of a negative comment.
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== Examples ==
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In the following examples, take note that 却 comes ''after'' the subject in each case, and that it can be used together with 但是.
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<div class="liju">
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*他 是 老板 ,<em>却</em> 没有 人 听 他 的 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì lǎobǎn, <em>què</em> méiyǒu rén tīng tā de.</span><span class="trans">He's the boss, but nobody listens to him.</span>
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*他 的 学历 很 高 ,能力 <em>却</em> 很 一般 。<span class="pinyin">Tā de xuélì hěn gāo, nénglì <em>què</em> hěn yībān.</span><span class="trans">He's very well-educated, but his ability is average.</span>
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*他们 一见钟情 , <em>却</em> 没有 在 一起 。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen yījiànzhōngqíng, <em>què</em> méiyǒu zài yīqǐ.</span><span class="trans">They fell in love at first sight, but they didn't end up with each other.</span>
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*这 件 衣服 虽然 是 名牌 ,<em>但是</em> 质量 <em>却</em> 不 怎么样 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn yīfu suīrán shì míngpái, <em>dànshì</em> zhìliàng <em>què</em> bù zěnmeyàng.</span><span class="trans">Although this clothing is brand-name, the quality is not so good.</span>
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*有些 人 智商 很 高 ,情商 <em>却</em> 很 低 。<span class="pinyin">Yǒuxiē rén zhìshāng hěn gāo, qíngshāng <em>què</em> hěn dī.</span><span class="trans">Some people have high IQ, but really low EQ.</span>
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*他 只有 16 岁,<em>却</em> 比 同龄人 成熟 得 多 。<span class="pinyin">Tā zhǐyǒu shíliù suì, <em>què</em> bǐ tónglíng rén chéngshú de duō.</span><span class="trans">He's only sixteen, but he's much more mature than others his age.</span>
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== Common Mistake: Putting 却 Before the Subject ==
 
== Common Mistake: Putting 却 Before the Subject ==
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<li class="o">他 家 很 有钱 ,<strong>但是</strong> 他 <em>却</em> 从来 不 炫耀 。<span class="pinyin">Tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, <strong>dànshì</strong> tā <em>què</em> cónglái bù xuànyào.</span><span class="trans">His family is rich, but he never flaunts it.</span></li>
 
<li class="o">他 家 很 有钱 ,<strong>但是</strong> 他 <em>却</em> 从来 不 炫耀 。<span class="pinyin">Tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, <strong>dànshì</strong> tā <em>què</em> cónglái bù xuànyào.</span><span class="trans">His family is rich, but he never flaunts it.</span></li>
 
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</div>
 
 
== Examples ==
 
 
In the following examples, take note that 却 comes ''after'' the subject in each case, and that it can be used together with 但是.
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
*他 是 老板 ,<em>却</em> 没有 人 听 他 的 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì lǎobǎn, <em>què</em> méiyǒu rén tīng tā de.</span><span class="trans">He's the boss, but nobody listens to him.</span>
 
*他 的 学历 很 高 ,能力 <em>却</em> 很 一般 。<span class="pinyin">Tā de xuélì hěn gāo, nénglì <em>què</em> hěn yībān.</span><span class="trans">He's very well-educated, but his ability is average.</span>
 
*他们 一见钟情 , <em>却</em> 没有 在 一起 。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen yījiànzhōngqíng, <em>què</em> méiyǒu zài yīqǐ.</span><span class="trans">They fell in love at first sight, but they didn't end up with each other.</span>
 
*这 件 衣服 虽然 是 名牌 ,<em>但是</em> 质量 <em>却</em> 不 怎么样 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn yīfu suīrán shì míngpái, <em>dànshì</em> zhìliàng <em>què</em> bù zěnmeyàng.</span><span class="trans">Although this clothing is brand-name, the quality is not so good.</span>
 
*有些 人 智商 很 高 ,情商 <em>却</em> 很 低 。<span class="pinyin">Yǒuxiē rén zhìshāng hěn gāo, qíngshāng <em>què</em> hěn dī.</span><span class="trans">Some people have high IQ, but really low EQ.</span>
 
*他 只有 16 岁,<em>却</em> 比 同龄人 成熟 得 多 。<span class="pinyin">Tā zhǐyǒu 16 suì, <em>què</em> bǐ tónglíng rén chéngshú de duō.</span><span class="trans">He's only sixteen, but he's much more mature than others his age.</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>

Latest revision as of 02:39, 29 December 2020

Chinese-grammar-wiki-que.jpg

却 (què) is used to indicate something was contrary to expectations, and is used in a similar way to 倒 (dào). However, 却 is generally followed by a negative comment.

Structure

The overall structure of sentences that use 却 is something like this:

Sentence ,(但是 +) Subj. + 却 ⋯⋯

Normally the first clause above makes a statement, and then the second clause introduces something contrary, generally in the form of a negative comment.

Examples

In the following examples, take note that 却 comes after the subject in each case, and that it can be used together with 但是.

  • 他 是 老板 , 没有 人 听 他 的 。Tā shì lǎobǎn, què méiyǒu rén tīng tā de.He's the boss, but nobody listens to him.
  • 他 的 学历 很 高 ,能力 很 一般 。Tā de xuélì hěn gāo, nénglì què hěn yībān.He's very well-educated, but his ability is average.
  • 他们 一见钟情 , 没有 在 一起 。Tāmen yījiànzhōngqíng, què méiyǒu zài yīqǐ.They fell in love at first sight, but they didn't end up with each other.
  • 这 件 衣服 虽然 是 名牌 ,但是 质量 不 怎么样 。Zhè jiàn yīfu suīrán shì míngpái, dànshì zhìliàng què bù zěnmeyàng.Although this clothing is brand-name, the quality is not so good.
  • 有些 人 智商 很 高 ,情商 很 低 。Yǒuxiē rén zhìshāng hěn gāo, qíngshāng què hěn dī.Some people have high IQ, but really low EQ.
  • 他 只有 16 岁, 比 同龄人 成熟 得 多 。Tā zhǐyǒu shíliù suì, què bǐ tónglíng rén chéngshú de duō.He's only sixteen, but he's much more mature than others his age.

Common Mistake: Putting 却 Before the Subject

It's also important to point out that 却 is not a conjunction; it's an adverb. Practically speaking, this means that rather than joining two statements, it goes inside a statement (within the second clause). Specifically, it needs to come after the subject and before the verb. (Note that when you use a conjunction like 但是 it comes before the subject! 却 is different in this respect. Also, rather than replacing 但是, it can work with it to add emphasis.)

Sometimes the subject of the second clause will be omitted. If there is a subject, however, 却 definitely needs to come after it.

A few examples to give you a better understanding of this:

  • 我 是 你 最好 的 朋友 , 没 邀请 我 。Wǒ shì nǐ zuì hǎo de péngyou, què méi yāoqǐng wǒ.
  • 我 是 你 最好 的 朋友 , 没 邀请 我 。Wǒ shì nǐ zuì hǎo de péngyou, què méi yāoqǐng wǒ.
  • 我 是 你 最好 的 朋友 ,但是 没 邀请 我 。Wǒ shì nǐ zuì hǎo de péngyou, dànshìquè méi yāoqǐng wǒ.I'm your best friend, but you didn't invite me.
  • 他 家 很 有钱 , 从来 不 炫耀 。Tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, què cónglái bù xuànyào.
  • 他 家 很 有钱 , 从来 不 炫耀 。Tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, què cónglái bù xuànyào.
  • 他 家 很 有钱 ,但是 从来 不 炫耀 。Tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, dànshìquè cónglái bù xuànyào.His family is rich, but he never flaunts it.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books