Difference between revisions of "Conceding a point with "shi""

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*好吃 <em>是</em> 好吃 ,<em>就是</em> 不 太 健康 。<span class="pinyin">Hǎochī <em>shì</em> hǎochī, <em>jiùshì</em> bù tài jiànkāng.</span><span class="trans">It is tasty, but it's not very healthy.</span>
 
*好吃 <em>是</em> 好吃 ,<em>就是</em> 不 太 健康 。<span class="pinyin">Hǎochī <em>shì</em> hǎochī, <em>jiùshì</em> bù tài jiànkāng.</span><span class="trans">It is tasty, but it's not very healthy.</span>
*这个 东西  好 <em>是</em> 好 ,<em>就是</em> 太 贵 了 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhège dōngxi hǎo <em>shì</em> hǎo, <em>jiùshì</em> tài guì le.</span><span class="trans">This thing is good, but it's too expensive.</span>
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*这个 东西  好 <em>是</em> 好 ,<em>就是</em> 太 贵 了 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège dōngxi hǎo <em>shì</em> hǎo, <em>jiùshì</em> tài guì le.</span><span class="trans">This thing is good, but it's too expensive.</span>
 
*工作 忙 <em>是</em> 忙 ,<em>但是</em> 我 很 开心 。<span class="pinyin">Gōngzuò máng  <em>shì</em> máng, <em>dànshì</em> wǒ hěn kāixīn.</span><span class="trans">I am busy at work, but I'm very happy with my job.</span>
 
*工作 忙 <em>是</em> 忙 ,<em>但是</em> 我 很 开心 。<span class="pinyin">Gōngzuò máng  <em>shì</em> máng, <em>dànshì</em> wǒ hěn kāixīn.</span><span class="trans">I am busy at work, but I'm very happy with my job.</span>
*这 件 衣服 便宜 <em>是</em> 便宜 ,<em>但是</em> 质量 太 好 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn yīfu  piányi <em>shì</em> piányi, <em>dànshì</em> zhìliàng tài hǎo.</span><span class="trans">This piece of clothing may be cheap, but the quality isn't very good.</span>
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*这 件 衣服 好看 <em>是</em> 好看 ,<em>但是</em> 不 适合 我 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn yīfu  hǎokàn <em>shì</em> hǎokàn, <em>dànshì</em> bù shìhé wǒ.</span><span class="trans">This piece of clothing looks good, but it doesn't look good on me.</span>
 
*这个 学生  聪明 <em>是</em> 聪明 ,<em>就是</em> 不 太 努力 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège xuéshēng  cōngming <em>shì</em> cōngming, <em>jiùshì</em> bù tài nǔlì.</span><span class="trans">This student may be smart, but he's not very hardworking.</span>
 
*这个 学生  聪明 <em>是</em> 聪明 ,<em>就是</em> 不 太 努力 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège xuéshēng  cōngming <em>shì</em> cōngming, <em>jiùshì</em> bù tài nǔlì.</span><span class="trans">This student may be smart, but he's not very hardworking.</span>
*这个 办公楼  好 <em>是</em> 好 ,<em>但是</em> 交通 不太 方便。<span class="pinyin">Zhège bàngōnglóu hǎo <em>shì</em> hǎo, <em>dànshì</em> jiāotōng bù tài fāngbiàn.</span><span class="trans">This office building is great, but the transportation is not very convenient.</span>
+
*这个 办公楼  好 <em>是</em> 好 ,<em>但是</em> 交通 不太 方便 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège bàngōnglóu hǎo <em>shì</em> hǎo, <em>dànshì</em> jiāotōng bù tài fāngbiàn.</span><span class="trans">This office building is great, but the transportation is not very convenient.</span>
 
*他 女朋友 漂亮 <em>是</em> 漂亮 ,<em>就是</em> 有点 矮 。<span class="pinyin">Tā nǚpéngyou  piàoliang <em>shì</em> piàoliang, <em>jiùshì</em> gèzi yǒudiǎn ǎi.</span><span class="trans">His girlfriend is pretty, but she is a little short.</span>
 
*他 女朋友 漂亮 <em>是</em> 漂亮 ,<em>就是</em> 有点 矮 。<span class="pinyin">Tā nǚpéngyou  piàoliang <em>shì</em> piàoliang, <em>jiùshì</em> gèzi yǒudiǎn ǎi.</span><span class="trans">His girlfriend is pretty, but she is a little short.</span>
*玩 得 开心 <em>是</em> 开心 ,<em>但是</em> 有点 累 。<span class="pinyin">Wán de kāixīn <em>shì</em> kāixīn, <em>dànshì</em> yǒudiǎn lèi.</span><span class="trans">We had lots of fun, but we were also a little tired after that.</span>
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*<em>是</em> ,<em>但是</em> 很 值得 。<span class="pinyin">Lèi <em>shì</em> lèi, <em>dànshì</em> hěn zhídé.</span><span class="trans">It's tiring, but it's all worth it.</span>
 
*这个 老师 严格 <em>是</em> 严格 ,<em>但是</em> 我 喜欢 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège lǎoshī  yángé <em>shì</em> yángé, <em>dànshì</em> tā jiāo de hǎo.</span><span class="trans">This teacher is strict, but I like her.</span>
 
*这个 老师 严格 <em>是</em> 严格 ,<em>但是</em> 我 喜欢 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège lǎoshī  yángé <em>shì</em> yángé, <em>dànshì</em> tā jiāo de hǎo.</span><span class="trans">This teacher is strict, but I like her.</span>
*难 <em>是</em> 难 ,<em>但是</em> 我 相信 我 能 做到 。<span class="trans">It is difficult, but I believe that I can do it.</span>
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*难 <em>是</em> 难 ,<em>但是</em> 我 相信 我 能 做到 。<span class="pinyin">Nán <em>shì</em> nán, <em>dànshì</em> wǒ xiāngxìn wǒ néng zuòdào.</span><span class="trans">It is difficult, but I believe that I can do it.</span>
 
 
 
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Revision as of 08:16, 31 October 2017

Chinese-grammar-wiki-shi.jpg

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 ⋯⋯

"但是"连接的第二个分句可以是好的、让人满意的方面或者相反的情况。"就是"连接的第二个分句一定是让人不满意的方面。

Examples

  • 好吃 好吃 ,就是 不 太 健康 。Hǎochī shì hǎochī, jiùshì bù tài jiànkāng.It is tasty, but it's not very healthy.
  • 这个 东西 好 好 ,就是 太 贵 了 。Zhège dōngxi hǎo shì hǎo, jiùshì tài guì le.This thing is good, but it's too expensive.
  • 工作 忙 忙 ,但是 我 很 开心 。Gōngzuò máng shì máng, dànshì wǒ hěn kāixīn.I am busy at work, but I'm very happy with my job.
  • 这 件 衣服 好看 好看 ,但是 不 适合 我 。Zhè jiàn yīfu hǎokàn shì hǎokàn, dànshì bù shìhé wǒ.This piece of clothing looks good, but it doesn't look good on me.
  • 这个 学生 聪明 聪明 ,就是 不 太 努力 。Zhège xuéshēng cōngming shì cōngming, jiùshì bù tài nǔlì.This student may be smart, but he's not very hardworking.
  • 这个 办公楼 好 好 ,但是 交通 不太 方便 。Zhège bàngōnglóu hǎo shì hǎo, dànshì jiāotōng bù tài fāngbiàn.This office building is great, but the transportation is not very convenient.
  • 他 女朋友 漂亮 漂亮 ,就是 有点 矮 。Tā nǚpéngyou piàoliang shì piàoliang, jiùshì gèzi yǒudiǎn ǎi.His girlfriend is pretty, but she is a little short.
  • 累 ,但是 很 值得 。Lèi shì lèi, dànshì hěn zhídé.It's tiring, but it's all worth it.
  • 这个 老师 严格 严格 ,但是 我 喜欢 。Zhège lǎoshī yángé shì yángé, dànshì tā jiāo de hǎo.This teacher is strict, but I like her.
  • 难 ,但是 我 相信 我 能 做到 。Nán shì nán, dànshì wǒ xiāngxìn wǒ néng zuòdào.It is difficult, but I believe that I can do it.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK4