Difference between revisions of "Conceding a point with "shi""
| Line 17: | Line 17: | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | * | + | *<strong>好吃</strong> <em>是</em> <strong>好吃</strong> ，<em>但是</em> 不 太 健康 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Hǎochī</strong> <em>shì</em> <strong>hǎochī</strong>, <em>dànshì</em> bù tài jiànkāng.</span><span class="trans">It is tasty, but it's not very healthy.</span> |
| − | * 这个 东西 <strong>好</strong> <em>是</em> <strong>好</strong> ，<em> | + | *这个 东西 <strong>好</strong> <em>是</em> <strong>好</strong> ，<em>就是</em> 太 贵 了 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhège dōngxi <strong>hǎo</strong> <em>shì</em> <strong>hǎo</strong>, <em> jiùshì</em> tài guì le.</span><span class="trans">This thing is good, but it's too expensive.</span> |
| − | *这 | + | *工作 <strong>累</strong> <em>是</em> <strong>累</strong> ，<em>但是</em> 很 开心 。<span class="trans">.</span> |
| − | * | + | *这 件 衣服 <strong>便宜</strong> <em>是</em> <strong>便宜</strong> ，<em>但是</em> 质量 不 太 好 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn yīfu <strong>piányi</strong> <em>shì</em> <strong>piányi</strong>, <em>dànshì</em> zhìliàng bù tài hǎo.</span><span class="trans">This piece of clothing may be cheap, but the quality isn't very good.</span> |
| + | *这 种 车 <strong>快</strong> <em>是</em> <strong>快</strong> ，<em>但是</em> 不 安全 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng chē <strong>kuài</strong> <em>shì</em> <strong>kuài</strong>, <em>dànshì</em> bù ānquán.</span><span class="trans">This car is fast, but it isn't safe.</span> | ||
| + | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 01:43, 27 July 2017
When conceding a point, we often put emphasis on the point we are conceding, and in Chinese there is a way to do that with 是 (shì).
Structure
This pattern is often used in an argument or debate. It's usually indicating that the speaker is conceding a point, but they still have some reservations about the topic at hand. Don't worry, the examples will make this clear.
Adj. + 是 + Adj. ， 但是 / 就是 ⋯⋯
Examples
- 好吃 是 好吃 ，但是 不 太 健康 。It is tasty, but it's not very healthy.
- 这个 东西 好 是 好 ，就是 太 贵 了 。 This thing is good, but it's too expensive.
- 工作 累 是 累 ，但是 很 开心 。.
- 这 件 衣服 便宜 是 便宜 ，但是 质量 不 太 好 。This piece of clothing may be cheap, but the quality isn't very good.
- 这 种 车 快 是 快 ，但是 不 安全 。 This car is fast, but it isn't safe.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 180) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 22- 3) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (p. 119) →buy
