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

 
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{{Grammar Box}}
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When conceding a point, we often put emphasis on the point we concede, and in Chinese there is a way to do that.
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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 ==
 
== Structure ==
  
"...是..., 但是..." (...shì..., dànshì...) is a pattern often used when conceding a point 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.
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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.
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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Adj. + 是 + Adj. , 但是 / 就是 ⋯⋯
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</div>
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== Examples ==
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<div class="liju">
  
Adjective + + Adjective + 但是  
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*工作 忙 <em></em> 忙 ,<strong>但是</strong> 我 很 开心 。<span class="pinyin">Gōngzuò máng  <em>shì</em> máng, <strong>dànshì</strong> wǒ hěn kāixīn.</span><span class="trans">Work may be busy, but I'm very happy.</span>
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*这 件 衣服 好看 <em>是</em> 好看 , <strong>但是</strong> 不 适合 我 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn yīfu  hǎokàn <em>shì</em> hǎokàn, <strong>dànshì</strong> bù shìhé wǒ.</span><span class="trans">This piece of clothing may look nice, but it doesn't suit me.</span>
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*这里 的 环境 好 <em>是</em> 好 ,<strong>但是</strong> 交通 不太 方便 。<span class="pinyin">Zhèlǐ de huánjìng hǎo <em>shì</em> hǎo, <strong>dànshì</strong> jiāotōng bù tài fāngbiàn.</span><span class="trans">This environment may be nice, but transportation is not very convenient.</span>
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*累 <em>是</em> 累 ,<strong>但是</strong> 很 值得 。<span class="pinyin">Lèi <em>shì</em> lèi, <strong>dànshì</strong> hěn zhídé.</span><span class="trans">It may be tiring, but it's really worth it.</span>
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*难 <em>是</em> 难 ,<strong>但是</strong> 我 相信 我 能 做到 。<span class="pinyin">Nán <em>shì</em> nán, <strong>dànshì</strong> wǒ xiāngxìn wǒ néng zuòdào.</span><span class="trans">It is difficult, but I believe that I can do it.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Examples ==
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When using 但是, the second clause can express positive experiences or something good, as well as negative perspectives. However, when leading with 就是, the second clause needs to express something negative.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*中国 的 产品 便宜 <em>是</em> 便宜,<em>但是</em> 质量 不 太 好。<span class="trans">Chinese goods may be cheap, but their quality isn't very good.</span>
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*好吃 <em>是</em> 好吃 ,<strong>就是</strong> 不 太 健康 。<span class="pinyin">Hǎochī <em>shì</em> hǎochī, <strong>jiùshì</strong> bù tài jiànkāng.</span><span class="trans">It may be tasty, it's just that it's not very healthy.</span>
*这 个 东西 好 <em>是</em> 好,<em>但是</em> 不 便宜。<span class="trans">This thing is good, but it isn't cheap.</span>
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*这个 东西 好 <em>是</em> 好 ,<strong>就是</strong> 太 贵 了 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège dōngxi hǎo <em>shì</em> hǎo, <strong>jiùshì</strong> tài guì le.</span><span class="trans">This thing may be good, it's just that it's too expensive.</span>
*那 辆 汽车 快 <em>是</em> 快,<em>但是</em> 不 安全。<span class="trans">That car is fast, but it isn't safe.</span>
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*这个 学生  聪明 <em>是</em> 聪明 ,<strong>就是</strong> 不 太 努力 。<span class="pinyin">Zhège xuéshēng  cōngming <em>shì</em> cōngming, <strong>jiùshì</strong> bù tài nǔlì.</span><span class="trans">This student may be smart, it's just that he's not very hard-working.</span>
*我的 数学 老师 教得 好 <em>是</em> 好,<em>但是</em>作业 太多。<span class="trans">My math teacher teaches well,but the assignments are too much.</span>
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*他 女朋友 漂亮 <em>是</em> 漂亮 ,<strong>就是</strong> 有点 奇怪 。<span class="pinyin">Tā nǚpéngyou  piàoliang <em>shì</em> piàoliang, <strong>jiùshì</strong> yǒudiǎn qíguài.</span><span class="trans">His girlfriend may be pretty, it's just that she's is a little weird.</span>
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*这个 老师 教 得 好 <em>是</em> 好 ,<strong>就是</strong> 太 严格 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhège lǎoshī jiāo de hǎo <em>shì</em> hǎo, <strong>jiùshì</strong> tài yángé.</span><span class="trans">This teacher may teach well; it's just that she's too strict.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==See also==
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== See also ==
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*[[Expressing Contrariness with "dao"]]
 
*[[Expressing Contrariness with "dao"]]
 
*[["Not… But Rather…" with "er shi"]]
 
*[["Not… But Rather…" with "er shi"]]
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 180) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|180}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 22- 3) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed)|22- 3}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (p. 119) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|119}}
 
 
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
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{{Basic Grammar|是|B1|Adj. + 是 + Adj., 但是⋯⋯|这个 东西 好 <em>是</em> 好 ,<em>就是</em> 太 贵 了 。|grammar point|ASGT9Y8P}}
 
{{Similar|"Not… But Rather…" with "er shi"}}
 
{{Similar|"Not… But Rather…" with "er shi"}}
{{Similar|Expressing Contrariness with "dao"}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|是|B1|Adj + 是 + Adj, 但是…|好 <em>是</em> 好,<em>但</em> 不 便宜。|grammar point|ASGT9Y8P}}
 
 
{{Rel char|但是}}
 
{{Rel char|但是}}
{{Rel char|}}
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{{Rel char|就是}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
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{{Subprop|Complex Sentence Patterns}}

Latest revision as of 01:10, 3 March 2021

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 ⋯⋯

Examples

  • 工作 忙 忙 ,但是 我 很 开心 。Gōngzuò máng shì máng, dànshì wǒ hěn kāixīn.Work may be busy, but I'm very happy.
  • 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 may look nice, but it doesn't suit me.
  • 这里 的 环境 好 好 ,但是 交通 不太 方便 。Zhèlǐ de huánjìng hǎo shì hǎo, dànshì jiāotōng bù tài fāngbiàn.This environment may be nice, but transportation is not very convenient.
  • 累 ,但是 很 值得 。Lèi shì lèi, dànshì hěn zhídé.It may be tiring, but it's really worth it.
  • 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.

When using 但是, the second clause can express positive experiences or something good, as well as negative perspectives. However, when leading with 就是, the second clause needs to express something negative.

  • 好吃 好吃 ,就是 不 太 健康 。Hǎochī shì hǎochī, jiùshì bù tài jiànkāng.It may be tasty, it's just that 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 may be good, it's just that it's too expensive.
  • 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, it's just that he's not very hard-working.
  • 他 女朋友 漂亮 漂亮 ,就是 有点 奇怪 。Tā nǚpéngyou piàoliang shì piàoliang, jiùshì yǒudiǎn qíguài.His girlfriend may be pretty, it's just that she's is a little weird.
  • 这个 老师 教 得 好 好 ,就是 太 严格 。 Zhège lǎoshī jiāo de hǎo shì hǎo, jiùshì tài yángé.This teacher may teach well; it's just that she's too strict.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK4