Difference between revisions of "Expressing "although" with "suiran" and "danshi""
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*<em>虽然</em> 奶奶 已经 八十 多 了 ,<em>但是</em> 他 精神 很 好 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> nǎinai yǐjīng bāshí duō le, <em>dànshì</em> tā jīngshén hěn hǎo.</span><span class="trans">Although grandpa is old, he look very well.</span> | *<em>虽然</em> 奶奶 已经 八十 多 了 ,<em>但是</em> 他 精神 很 好 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> nǎinai yǐjīng bāshí duō le, <em>dànshì</em> tā jīngshén hěn hǎo.</span><span class="trans">Although grandpa is old, he look very well.</span> | ||
*我们 认识 的 时间 <em>虽然</em> 不 长 ,<em>但是</em> 我们 已经 见 过 好 几 次 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen rènshi de shíjiān <em>suīrán</em> bù cháng, <em>dànshì</em> wǒmen yǐjīng jiàn guò hǎo jǐ cì le.</span><span class="trans">Although we haven't known each other for a long time, we've met several times.</span> | *我们 认识 的 时间 <em>虽然</em> 不 长 ,<em>但是</em> 我们 已经 见 过 好 几 次 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen rènshi de shíjiān <em>suīrán</em> bù cháng, <em>dànshì</em> wǒmen yǐjīng jiàn guò hǎo jǐ cì le.</span><span class="trans">Although we haven't known each other for a long time, we've met several times.</span> | ||
− | *<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> 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 very hungry, she ordered a lot of food.</span> |
*这 种 运动 <em>虽然</em> 很 酷 ,<em>但是</em> 很 危险 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng yùndòng <em>suīrán</em> hěn kù, <em> dànshì</em> hěn wēixiǎn.</span><span class="trans">Although this kind of sport is very cool, it's dangerous.</span> | *这 种 运动 <em>虽然</em> 很 酷 ,<em>但是</em> 很 危险 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng yùndòng <em>suīrán</em> hěn kù, <em> dànshì</em> hěn wēixiǎn.</span><span class="trans">Although this kind of sport is very cool, it's dangerous.</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> 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> 他 已经 在 上海 住 了 两 年 了 ,<em>但是</em> | + | *<em>虽然</em> 他 已经 在 上海 住 了 两 年 了 ,<em>但是</em> 还是 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> háishì 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 09:51, 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 他 家 很 有钱,可是 他 从来 不 浪费 钱 。Even though his family is rich, he never wastes money.
- 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 你 很 忙 ,可是 还是 要 多 陪 孩子 。Although you are busy, you still need to spend more time with your kid.
- 我 虽然 没 见 过 我爷爷 ,可是 我 知道 很 多 他 的 故事 。Although I've never seen my grandfather, I know many stories about him.
- 虽然 奶奶 已经 八十 多 了 ,但是 他 精神 很 好 。 Although grandpa is old, he look very well.
- 我们 认识 的 时间 虽然 不 长 ,但是 我们 已经 见 过 好 几 次 了 。Although we haven't known each other for a long time, we've met several times.
- 虽然 她 说 不 太 饿 ,但是 她 点 了 很 多 菜 。Even though she said she isn't very hungry, she ordered a lot of food.
- 这 种 运动 虽然 很 酷 ,但是 很 危险 。 Although this kind of sport is very cool, it's dangerous.
- 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 他 已经 在 上海 住 了 两 年 了 ,但是 还是 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