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

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*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>
 
*<em>虽然</em> 你们 没有 赢 ,<em>但是</em> 我 知道 大家 尽力 了 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> nǐmen méiyǒu yíng, <em>dànshì</em> wǒ zhīdao dàjiā jìnlì le.</span><span class="trans">You didn't win,  but I know all of you did your best.</span>
 
*<em>虽然</em> 你们 没有 赢 ,<em>但是</em> 我 知道 大家 尽力 了 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> nǐmen méiyǒu yíng, <em>dànshì</em> wǒ zhīdao dàjiā jìnlì le.</span><span class="trans">You didn't win,  but I know all of you did your best.</span>
*<em>虽然</em> 我们 准备 得 很 好 ,<em>但是</em> <strong>还是</strong> 有点 紧张 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> wǒmen zhǔnbèi de hěn hǎo, <em>dànshì</em> háishì yǒudiǎn jǐnzhāng.</span><span class="trans">Although we all prepared very well, we're still a little nervous.</span>
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*<em>虽然</em> 准备 得 很 好 ,<em>但是</em> <strong>还是</strong> 有点 紧张 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> zhǔnbèi de hěn hǎo, <em>dànshì</em> háishì yǒudiǎn jǐnzhāng.</span><span class="trans">Although she's prepared very well, she's still a little nervous.</span>
 
*我 认识 他 的 时间 <em>虽然</em> 不 长 ,<em>但是</em> 我 已经 很 了解 他 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ rènshi tā de shíjiān <em>suīrán</em> bù cháng, <em>dànshì</em> wǒ yǐjīng hěn liǎojiě tā le.</span><span class="trans">Although I haven't known him for a long time, I've known him very deeply.</span>
 
*我 认识 他 的 时间 <em>虽然</em> 不 长 ,<em>但是</em> 我 已经 很 了解 他 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ rènshi tā de shíjiān <em>suīrán</em> bù cháng, <em>dànshì</em> wǒ yǐjīng hěn liǎojiě tā le.</span><span class="trans">Although I haven't known him for a long time, I've known him very deeply.</span>
  

Revision as of 02:00, 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

  • 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.
  • 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 你们 没有 赢 ,但是 我 知道 大家 尽力 了 。Suīrán nǐmen méiyǒu yíng, dànshì wǒ zhīdao dàjiā jìnlì le.You didn't win, but I know all of you did your best.
  • 虽然 她 准备 得 很 好 ,但是 还是 有点 紧张 。Suīrán tā zhǔnbèi de hěn hǎo, dànshì háishì yǒudiǎn jǐnzhāng.Although she's prepared very well, she's 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