Difference between revisions of "Expressing "although" with "jinguan""

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
尽管 (jǐnguǎn)  means "although," and is a little stronger than [[Expressing "although" with "suiran" and "danshi"|虽然]], perhaps more like "even though."
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尽管 (jǐnguǎn)  means "although," and is a little stronger than [[Expressing "although" with "suiran" and "danshi"|虽然]], perhaps more like "despite" or "even though" in English.  
  
 
== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
尽管⋯⋯ ,但是 + Subj. + 还是⋯⋯
+
尽管⋯⋯ ,(可是 / 但是 +) Subj. + 还是⋯⋯
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
可是 or 但是 can be added to further emphasize the shift in meaning in the second phrase.
  
 
== Examples ==
 
== Examples ==
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*<em>尽管</em> 老板 最近 不在 ,我们 <strong>还是</strong> 不 能 偷懒。<span class="pinyin"><em>Jǐnguǎn</em> lǎobǎn zuìjìn bùzài, wǒmen <strong>háishì</strong> bù néng tōulǎn.</span><span class="trans">Despite the fact that the boss hasn't been around lately, we still can't be lazy.</span>
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*<em>尽管</em> 很 多 人 批评 他 ,他 <strong>还是</strong>  坚持 这么 做。<span class="pinyin"><em>Jǐnguǎn</em> hěn duō rén pīpíng tā, tā <strong>háishì</strong> jiānchí zhème zuò.</span><span class="trans">Despite the fact that many people criticize him, he still insists on doing it.</span>
 +
*<em>尽管</em> 老板 最近 不 在 ,我们 <strong>还是</strong> 不 能 偷懒。<span class="pinyin"><em>Jǐnguǎn</em> lǎobǎn zuìjìn bù zài, wǒmen <strong>háishì</strong> bù néng tōulǎn.</span><span class="trans">Despite the fact that the boss hasn't been around lately, we still can't get lazy.</span>
 +
*<em>尽管</em> 困难 很 多 ,<strong>但是</strong> 我们 不能 放弃。<span class="pinyin"><em>Jǐnguǎn</em> kùnnán hěn duō, <strong>dànshì</strong> wǒmen bù néng fàngqì.</span><span class="trans">Even though there are many difficulties, we can't just give up.</span>
 
*<em>尽管</em> 我 很 生气 ,<strong>但是</strong> 我 没 发脾气。<span class="pinyin"><em>Jǐnguǎn</em> wǒ hěn shēngqì, <strong>dànshì</strong> wǒ méi fā píqì.</span><span class="trans">Even though I was angry, I didn't lose my temper.</span>
 
*<em>尽管</em> 我 很 生气 ,<strong>但是</strong> 我 没 发脾气。<span class="pinyin"><em>Jǐnguǎn</em> wǒ hěn shēngqì, <strong>dànshì</strong> wǒ méi fā píqì.</span><span class="trans">Even though I was angry, I didn't lose my temper.</span>
*<em>尽管</em> 警察 已经 找到 了 一些 证据 ,<strong>但是</strong> 他们 <strong>还是</strong> 不能 抓 那个 嫌疑人。<span class="pinyin"><em>Jǐnguǎn</em> jǐngchá yǐjīng zhǎodào le yīxiē zhèngjù, <strong>dànshì</strong> tāmen <strong>háishì</strong> bù néng zhuā nàge xiányí rén.</span><span class="trans">Even though the police found some proof, they still couldn’t arrest the suspect.</span>
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*<em>尽管</em> 警察 已经 找到 了 一些 证据 ,<strong>但是</strong> 他们 <strong>还是</strong> 不能 抓 那个 嫌疑人。<span class="pinyin"><em>Jǐnguǎn</em> jǐngchá yǐjīng zhǎodào le yīxiē zhèngjù, <strong>dànshì</strong> tāmen <strong>háishì</strong> bù néng zhuā nàge xiányírén.</span><span class="trans">Even though the police found some proof, they still couldn’t arrest the suspect.</span>
*<em>尽管</em> 他 的 书 很 有 争议 ,<strong>但</strong> 它 <strong>还是</strong> 出版 了。<span class="pinyin"><em>Jǐnguǎn</em> tā de shū hěn yǒu zhēngyì, <strong>dàn</strong> tā <strong>háishì</strong> chūbǎn le.</span><span class="trans">Even though his book is very controversial, it's still published.</span>
+
*<em>尽管</em> 他 的 书 很 有 争议 ,<strong>但</strong> 它 <strong>还是</strong> 出版 了。<span class="pinyin"><em>Jǐnguǎn</em> tā de shū hěn yǒu zhēngyì, <strong>dàn</strong> tā <strong>háishì</strong> chūbǎn le.</span><span class="trans">Even though his book is very controversial, it was still published.</span>
*<em>尽管</em> 困难 很多 ,<strong>但是</strong> 我们 不能 放弃。<span class="pinyin"><em>Jǐnguǎn</em> kùnnán hěn duō, <strong>dànshì</strong> wǒmen bù néng fàngqì.</span><span class="trans">Even though there're many difficulties, we can't just give up on it.</span>
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*<em>尽管</em> 当时 很 危险 ,消防员 <strong>还是</strong> 勇敢 地 冲 了 进去。<span class="pinyin">Jǐnguǎn dāngshí hěn wéixiǎn, xiāofángyuán <strong>háishì</strong> yǒnggǎn de chōng le jìnqù.</span><span class="trans">Even though it was very dangerous, the firefighters still bravely charged right in.</span>
*<em>尽管</em> 很多人 批评 他 ,他 <strong>还是</strong>  坚持 这么 做。<span class="pinyin"><em>Jǐnguǎn</em> hěn duō rén pīpíng tā, tā <strong>háishì</strong> jiānchí zhème zuò.</span><span class="trans">Despite the fact that many people criticize him, he still insists on doing it.</span>
 
*<em>尽管</em> 当时 很 危险 ,消防员 <strong>还是</strong> 勇敢 地 冲 了 进去。<span class="pinyin">Jǐnguǎn dāngshí hěn wéixiǎn, xiāofáng yuán <strong>háishì</strong> yǒnggǎn de chōng le jìnqù.</span><span class="trans">Even though it was very dangerous, the firefighters are still bravely running in.</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
可 or 但是 can be added before 还是 or 仍然 (réngrán) to further emphasize the shift in meaning in the second phrase.
 
  
 
== A Note on Pronunciation ==
 
== A Note on Pronunciation ==

Revision as of 04:21, 12 November 2020

尽管 (jǐnguǎn) means "although," and is a little stronger than 虽然, perhaps more like "despite" or "even though" in English.

Structure

尽管⋯⋯ ,(可是 / 但是 +) Subj. + 还是⋯⋯

可是 or 但是 can be added to further emphasize the shift in meaning in the second phrase.

Examples

  • 尽管 很 多 人 批评 他 ,他 还是 坚持 这么 做。Jǐnguǎn hěn duō rén pīpíng tā, tā háishì jiānchí zhème zuò.Despite the fact that many people criticize him, he still insists on doing it.
  • 尽管 老板 最近 不 在 ,我们 还是 不 能 偷懒。Jǐnguǎn lǎobǎn zuìjìn bù zài, wǒmen háishì bù néng tōulǎn.Despite the fact that the boss hasn't been around lately, we still can't get lazy.
  • 尽管 困难 很 多 ,但是 我们 不能 放弃。Jǐnguǎn kùnnán hěn duō, dànshì wǒmen bù néng fàngqì.Even though there are many difficulties, we can't just give up.
  • 尽管 我 很 生气 ,但是 我 没 发脾气。Jǐnguǎn wǒ hěn shēngqì, dànshì wǒ méi fā píqì.Even though I was angry, I didn't lose my temper.
  • 尽管 警察 已经 找到 了 一些 证据 ,但是 他们 还是 不能 抓 那个 嫌疑人。Jǐnguǎn jǐngchá yǐjīng zhǎodào le yīxiē zhèngjù, dànshì tāmen háishì bù néng zhuā nàge xiányírén.Even though the police found some proof, they still couldn’t arrest the suspect.
  • 尽管 他 的 书 很 有 争议 ,还是 出版 了。Jǐnguǎn tā de shū hěn yǒu zhēngyì, dànháishì chūbǎn le.Even though his book is very controversial, it was still published.
  • 尽管 当时 很 危险 ,消防员 还是 勇敢 地 冲 了 进去。Jǐnguǎn dāngshí hěn wéixiǎn, xiāofángyuán háishì yǒnggǎn de chōng le jìnqù.Even though it was very dangerous, the firefighters still bravely charged right in.

A Note on Pronunciation

You may hear the word 尽管 pronounced as both "jǐnguǎn" and "jìnguǎn." Although "jǐnguǎn" is technically correct and "jìnguǎn" is incorrect, many educated native speakers will pronounce 尽量 exclusively as "jìnguǎn."

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites