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

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*他 <em>虽然</em> 不 想 去 ,<em>但是</em> <strong>还是</strong> 去 了 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>suīrán</em> bù xiǎng qù, <em>dànshì</em> háishì qù le.</span><span class="trans">Although he didn't want to go, he did after all.</span>
 
*他 <em>虽然</em> 不 想 去 ,<em>但是</em> <strong>还是</strong> 去 了 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>suīrán</em> bù xiǎng qù, <em>dànshì</em> háishì qù le.</span><span class="trans">Although he didn't want to go, he did after all.</span>
 
*<em>虽然</em> 他 家 很 有钱 ,<em>可是</em> 他 从来 不 浪费 钱 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, <em>kěshì</em> tā cónglái bù làngfèi qián.</span><span class="trans">Even though his family is rich, he never wastes money.</span>
 
*<em>虽然</em> 他 家 很 有钱 ,<em>可是</em> 他 从来 不 浪费 钱 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, <em>kěshì</em> tā cónglái bù làngfèi qián.</span><span class="trans">Even though his family is rich, he never wastes money.</span>
*<em>虽然</em> 有 错 ,<em>可是</em> 不 能 全 怪 他 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>suīrán</em> yǒu cuò, <em>kěshì</em> bù néng quán guài tā.</span><span class="trans">Although he did something wrong, you can't blame him for all of it.</span>
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*<em>虽然</em> 很 胖 ,<em>可是</em> 很 灵活 。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>suīrán</em> hěn pàng, <em>kěshì</em> hěn línghuó.</span><span class="trans">Although she is fat, she is flexible.</span>
 
*你 <em>虽然</em> 学历 高 ,<em>可是</em> 没有 工作 经验 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>suīrán</em> xuélì gāo, <em>kěshì</em> méiyǒu gōngzuò jīngyàn.</span><span class="trans">Although you're well-educated, you don't have working experience.</span>
 
*你 <em>虽然</em> 学历 高 ,<em>可是</em> 没有 工作 经验 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <em>suīrán</em> xuélì gāo, <em>kěshì</em> méiyǒu gōngzuò jīngyàn.</span><span class="trans">Although you're well-educated, you don't have working experience.</span>
 
*奶奶 <em>虽然</em> 八十 多 了 ,<em>但是</em> 精神 很 好 。<span class="pinyin">Nǎinai <em>suīrán</em> bāshí duō le, <em>dànshì</em> tā jīngshén hěn hǎo.</span><span class="trans">Although grandma is in her eighties, she look very well.</span>
 
*奶奶 <em>虽然</em> 八十 多 了 ,<em>但是</em> 精神 很 好 。<span class="pinyin">Nǎinai <em>suīrán</em> bāshí duō le, <em>dànshì</em> tā jīngshén hěn hǎo.</span><span class="trans">Although grandma is in her eighties, she look very well.</span>

Revision as of 01:53, 26 December 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⋯⋯ 但是⋯⋯ " expresses that while the former part of the sentence is true, there is an adverse reaction in the latter part.

虽然 ⋯⋯ ,但是 / 可是 ⋯⋯

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. Also note that 还是 can be used after 但是 for emphasis, meaning "still."

Examples

  • 这 件 衣服 虽然 有点 贵 ,但是 质量 很 好 。Zhè jiàn yīfu suīrán yǒudiǎn guì, dànshì zhìliàng hěn hǎo.Although this piece of clothing is a little expensive, the quality is pretty good.
  • 虽然 不 想 去 ,但是 还是 去 了 。suīrán bù xiǎng qù, dànshì háishì qù le.Although he didn't want to go, he did after all.
  • 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.
  • 虽然 很 胖 ,可是 很 灵活 。suīrán hěn pàng, kěshì hěn línghuó.Although she is fat, she is flexible.
  • 虽然 学历 高 ,可是 没有 工作 经验 。suīrán xuélì gāo, kěshì méiyǒu gōngzuò jīngyàn.Although you're well-educated, you don't have working experience.
  • 奶奶 虽然 八十 多 了 ,但是 精神 很 好 。Nǎinai suīrán bāshí duō le, dànshì tā jīngshén hěn hǎo.Although grandma is in her eighties, she look very well.
  • 虽然 外面 很 冷 ,可是 里面 很 暖和 。Suīrán wàimiàn hěn lěng, kěshì lǐmiàn hěn nuǎnhuo.Although it's cold outside, it's warm inside.
  • 虽然 我们 没有 赢 ,但是 我们 已经 尽力 了 。Although we didn't win, we did try our best.
  • 虽然 我们 准备 得 很 好 ,但是 还是 有点 紧张 。Suīrán wǒmen zhǔnbèi de hěn hǎo, dànshì háishì yǒudiǎn jǐnzhāng.Although we all prepared very well, we're still a little nervous.
  • 我 认识 他 的 时间 虽然 不 长 ,但是 我 已经 很 了解 他 了 。Wǒ rènshi tā de shíjiān suīrán bù cháng, dànshì wǒ yǐjīng hěn liǎojiě tā le.Although I haven't known him for a long time, I've known him very deeply.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books