The "however" adverb "que"

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.

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.)

Also, 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 ，却 你 没 邀请 我 。Put 却 AFTER the subject.Wǒ shì nǐ zuì hǎo de péngyou, què nǐ méi yāoqǐng wǒ.
• 我 是 你 最好 的 朋友 ，你 却 没 邀请 我 。This is correct.Wǒ shì nǐ zuì hǎo de péngyou, nǐ què méi yāoqǐng wǒ.
• 我 是 你 最好 的 朋友 ，但是 你 却 没 邀请 我 。但是 is optional.Wǒ shì nǐ zuì hǎo de péngyou, dànshì nǐ què méi yāoqǐng wǒ.I'm your best friend, but you didn't invite me.

• 他 家 很 有钱 ，却 他 从来 不 炫耀 。Put 却 AFTER the subject.Tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, què tā cónglái bù xuànyào.
• 他 家 很 有钱 ，他 却 从来 不 炫耀 。This is correct.Tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, tā què cónglái bù xuànyào.
• 他 家 很 有钱 ，但是 他 却 从来 不 炫耀 。但是 is optional.Tā jiā hěn yǒu qián, dànshì tā què cónglái bù xuànyào.His family is rich, but he never flaunts it.

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 ，却 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 却 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 ， 却 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 却 不 怎么样 。Zhè jiàn yīfú suīrán shì míngpái, dànshì zhìliàng què bù zěnme yàng.Although this clothing is brand-name, the quality is not so good.
• 有些 人 智商 很 高 ，情商 却 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，却 比 同龄人 成熟 得 多 。Tā zhǐyǒu 16 suì, què bǐ tónglíng rén chéngshú de duō.He's only sixteen, but he's much more mature than others his age.

See also

• Expressing Contrariness with "dao"
• "On the Contrary" with "fan'er"
• A Softer "But"

Sources and further reading

Books

• HSK Standard Course 4上 (pp. 22) 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. 140-2) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (pp. 184) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

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