Difference between revisions of "Expressing "although" with "suiran" and "danshi""

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*<em>虽然</em> 奶奶 已经 八十 多 了 ,<em>但是</em> 他 精神 很 好 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> nǎinai yǐjīng bāshí duō le, <em>dànshì</em> tā jīngshén hěn hǎo.</span><span class="trans">Although grandpa is old, he look very well.</span>
 
*<em>虽然</em> 奶奶 已经 八十 多 了 ,<em>但是</em> 他 精神 很 好 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> nǎinai yǐjīng bāshí duō le, <em>dànshì</em> tā jīngshén hěn hǎo.</span><span class="trans">Although grandpa is old, he look very well.</span>
 
*我们 认识 的 时间 <em>虽然</em> 不 长 ,<em>但是</em> 我们 已经 见 过 好 几 次 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen rènshi de shíjiān <em>suīrán</em> bù cháng, <em>dànshì</em> wǒmen yǐjīng jiàn guò hǎo jǐ cì le.</span><span class="trans">Although we haven't known each other for a long time, we've met several times.</span>
 
*我们 认识 的 时间 <em>虽然</em> 不 长 ,<em>但是</em> 我们 已经 见 过 好 几 次 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen rènshi de shíjiān <em>suīrán</em> bù cháng, <em>dànshì</em> wǒmen yǐjīng jiàn guò hǎo jǐ cì le.</span><span class="trans">Although we haven't known each other for a long time, we've met several times.</span>
*<em>虽然</em> 她 说 不 太 饿 ,<em>但是</em> 她 点 了 很 多 菜 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> tā shuō bù tài è, <em>dànshì</em> tā diǎn le hěn duō cài.</span><span class="trans">Even though she said she isn't hungry, she ordered a lot of food.</span>
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*<em>虽然</em> 她 说 不 太 饿 ,<em>但是</em> 她 点 了 很 多 菜 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> tā shuō bù tài è, <em>dànshì</em> tā diǎn le hěn duō cài.</span><span class="trans">Even though she said she isn't very hungry, she ordered a lot of food.</span>
 
*这 种 运动 <em>虽然</em> 很 酷 ,<em>但是</em> 很 危险 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng yùndòng <em>suīrán</em> hěn kù, <em> dànshì</em> hěn wēixiǎn.</span><span class="trans">Although this kind of sport is very cool, it's dangerous.</span>
 
*这 种 运动 <em>虽然</em> 很 酷 ,<em>但是</em> 很 危险 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè zhǒng yùndòng <em>suīrán</em> hěn kù, <em> dànshì</em> hěn wēixiǎn.</span><span class="trans">Although this kind of sport is very cool, it's dangerous.</span>
 
*<em>虽然</em> 这 次 考试 不 重要 ,<em>但是</em> 我 也 要 好好 准备 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> zhè cì kǎoshì bù zhòngyào, <em>dànshì</em> wǒ yě yào hǎohǎo zhǔnbèi.</span><span class="trans">Although this exam is not important, I'm going to prepare well anyway.</span>
 
*<em>虽然</em> 这 次 考试 不 重要 ,<em>但是</em> 我 也 要 好好 准备 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> zhè cì kǎoshì bù zhòngyào, <em>dànshì</em> wǒ yě yào hǎohǎo zhǔnbèi.</span><span class="trans">Although this exam is not important, I'm going to prepare well anyway.</span>
*<em>虽然</em> 他 已经 在 上海 住 了 两 年 了 ,<em>但是</em> 不太 了解 这个 城市 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> tā yǐjīng zài Shànghǎi zhù le liǎng nián le, <em> dànshì</em> hái bù tài liǎojiě zhège chéngshì.</span><span class="trans">Although he's been living Shanghai for two years, he still doesn't know much about this city.</span>
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*<em>虽然</em> 他 已经 在 上海 住 了 两 年 了 ,<em>但是</em> 还是 不太 了解 这个 城市 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> tā yǐjīng zài Shànghǎi zhù le liǎng nián le, <em>dànshì</em> háishì bù tài liǎojiě zhège chéngshì.</span><span class="trans">Although he's been living Shanghai for two years, he still doesn't know much about this city.</span>
  
 
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Revision as of 09:51, 28 August 2017

The grammar pattern "虽然⋯⋯ 但是⋯⋯" (suīrán... dànshì...) is one of the most common used patterns in Chinese, especially in written Chinese. You can think of it as meaning "although," but unlike in English, you still need to follow it with a "but" word in Chinese.

Structure

"虽然(suīrán) ⋯⋯ ,但是(dànshì) ⋯⋯ " expresses that while the former part of the sentence is true, there is an adverse reaction in the latter part.

虽然 ⋯⋯ ,但是 ⋯⋯

Simply put, the pattern means, although..., but... In English, you wouldn't normally need the "but" there, but it is required in Chinese. Be aware that "可是" can be used interchangeably with "但是" for the "but" part.

Examples

  • 虽然 他 家 很 有钱,可是 他 从来 不 浪费 钱 。Suīrán tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, kěshì tā cónglái bù làngfèi qián.Even though his family is rich, he never wastes money.
  • 这 件 衣服 虽然 很 贵 ,但是 质量 很 好 。Zhè jiàn yīfu suīrán hěn guì, dànshì zhìliàng hěn hǎo.Although this piece of clothing is expensive, the quality is pretty good.
  • 虽然 你 很 忙 ,可是 还是 要 多 陪 孩子 。 suīrán nǐ hěn máng, kěshì háishì yào duō péi háizi.Although you are busy, you still need to spend more time with your kid.
  • 虽然 没 见 过 我爷爷 ,可是 我 知道 很 多 他 的 故事 。suīrán méi jiàn guo wǒ yéye, kěshì wǒ zhīdào hěn duō tā de gùshi.Although I've never seen my grandfather, I know many stories about him.
  • 虽然 奶奶 已经 八十 多 了 ,但是 他 精神 很 好 。 Suīrán nǎinai yǐjīng bāshí duō le, dànshì tā jīngshén hěn hǎo.Although grandpa is old, he look very well.
  • 我们 认识 的 时间 虽然 不 长 ,但是 我们 已经 见 过 好 几 次 了 。Wǒmen rènshi de shíjiān suīrán bù cháng, dànshì wǒmen yǐjīng jiàn guò hǎo jǐ cì le.Although we haven't known each other for a long time, we've met several times.
  • 虽然 她 说 不 太 饿 ,但是 她 点 了 很 多 菜 。Suīrán tā shuō bù tài è, dànshì tā diǎn le hěn duō cài.Even though she said she isn't very hungry, she ordered a lot of food.
  • 这 种 运动 虽然 很 酷 ,但是 很 危险 。 Zhè zhǒng yùndòng suīrán hěn kù, dànshì hěn wēixiǎn.Although this kind of sport is very cool, it's dangerous.
  • 虽然 这 次 考试 不 重要 ,但是 我 也 要 好好 准备 。Suīrán zhè cì kǎoshì bù zhòngyào, dànshì wǒ yě yào hǎohǎo zhǔnbèi.Although this exam is not important, I'm going to prepare well anyway.
  • 虽然 他 已经 在 上海 住 了 两 年 了 ,但是 还是 不太 了解 这个 城市 。 Suīrán tā yǐjīng zài Shànghǎi zhù le liǎng nián le, dànshì háishì bù tài liǎojiě zhège chéngshì.Although he's been living Shanghai for two years, he still doesn't know much about this city.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books