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

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
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The grammar pattern 虽然⋯⋯ 但是⋯⋯ (suīrán... dànshì...) is one of the most commonly 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 up with a "[[but]]" word in Chinese.
 
The grammar pattern 虽然⋯⋯ 但是⋯⋯ (suīrán... dànshì...) is one of the most commonly 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 up with a "[[but]]" word in Chinese.
  
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*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 work 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 work experience.</span>
 
*奶奶 <em>虽然</em> 八十 多 岁 了 ,<em>但是</em> 她 精神 很 好 。<span class="pinyin">Nǎinai <em>suīrán</em> bāshí duō suì le, <em>dànshì</em> tā jīngshén hěn hǎo.</span><span class="trans">Although grandma is in her eighties, she is energetic.</span>
 
*奶奶 <em>虽然</em> 八十 多 岁 了 ,<em>但是</em> 她 精神 很 好 。<span class="pinyin">Nǎinai <em>suīrán</em> bāshí duō suì le, <em>dànshì</em> tā jīngshén hěn hǎo.</span><span class="trans">Although grandma is in her eighties, she is energetic.</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">Although you didn't win, I know that all of you did your best.</span>
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*<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 zhīdào dàjiā jìnlì le.</span><span class="trans">Although you didn't win, I know that all of you did your best.</span>
 
*<em>虽然</em> 我 认识 他 很长 时间 了 ,<em>但是</em> 我 <strong>还是</strong> 不 了解 他 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> wǒ rènshi tā hěn cháng shíjiān le, <em>dànshì</em> wǒ <strong>háishì</strong> bù liǎojiě tā.</span><span class="trans">Although I've known him for a long time, I still don't know him well.</span>
 
*<em>虽然</em> 我 认识 他 很长 时间 了 ,<em>但是</em> 我 <strong>还是</strong> 不 了解 他 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> wǒ rènshi tā hěn cháng shíjiān le, <em>dànshì</em> wǒ <strong>háishì</strong> bù liǎojiě tā.</span><span class="trans">Although I've known him for a long time, I still don't know him well.</span>
  
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|108}}
 
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{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|115-6}}  
 
{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|115-6}}  
 
{{Source|Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例)|217}}  
 
{{Source|Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例)|217}}  
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[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
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{{Basic Grammar|虽然|B1|虽然⋯⋯ ,但是 / 可是⋯⋯|<em>虽然</em> 渴 了,<em>但是</em> 不 想 喝 啤酒。|grammar point|ASGXI560}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|虽然|B1|虽然⋯⋯ ,但是 / 可是⋯⋯|<em>虽然</em> 渴 了,<em>但是</em> 不 想 喝 啤酒。|grammar point|ASGXI560}}
 
{{Rel char|但是}}
 
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{{Similar|Two words for "but"}}
 
{{Similar|Two words for "but"}}
 
{{Similar|A softer "but"}}
 
{{Similar|A softer "but"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "after all" with "bijing"}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Structure|Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Subprop|Complex Sentence Patterns}}
 
{{Subprop|Complex Sentence Patterns}}

Latest revision as of 08:57, 21 April 2021

The grammar pattern 虽然⋯⋯ 但是⋯⋯ (suīrán... dànshì...) is one of the most commonly 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 up 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 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 ended up going.
  • 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.
  • 我 妹妹 虽然 很 胖 ,可是 很 灵活 。Wǒ mèimei suīrán hěn pàng, kěshì hěn línghuó.Although my little sister is fat, she is flexible.
  • 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 has prepared very well, she's still a little nervous.
  • 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 work experience.
  • 奶奶 虽然 八十 多 岁 了 ,但是 她 精神 很 好 。Nǎinai suīrán bāshí duō suì le, dànshì tā jīngshén hěn hǎo.Although grandma is in her eighties, she is energetic.
  • 虽然 你们 没有 赢 ,但是 我 知道 大家 尽力 了 。Suīrán nǐmen méiyǒu yíng, dànshì wǒ zhīdào dàjiā jìnlì le.Although you didn't win, I know that all of you did your best.
  • 虽然 我 认识 他 很长 时间 了 ,但是还是 不 了解 他 。Suīrán wǒ rènshi tā hěn cháng shíjiān le, dànshìháishì bù liǎojiě tā.Although I've known him for a long time, I still don't know him well.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books