Expressing contrariness with "dao"

倒 (dào) can be used to express something is contrary to expectations, acting as a turning point in the sentence. It is generally followed by a positive comment.


倒 Used to Express an Unexpected Situation

Note that 倒 is often followed by 也 or 又 to add further emphasis.

Structure

……,subj. 倒 + Unexpected Situation

Examples

  • 这 家 餐厅 的 汉堡 不 正宗, 也 挺 好 吃。This cafeteria's hamburgers aren't very authentic, but they are very tasty.
  • 他 不 是 很 努力 的学生,但 成绩 也 不错。He's not a vey hardworking student, but his score isn't too bad.
  • 已经 是 春天 了, 又 冷 起来 了。It's already spring, but it's getting cold.
  • 不 吃 药,病 慢慢 好 了。I didn't take any medicine, but I'm getting better.
  • 他 是 个 老外,普通话 说 得 挺 流利。He is a foreigner, but he speaks fluent Chinese.

倒 can be used with 不过, 但是 or 可是 for further emphasis.

倒 Used to Make a Concession and then a Complaint

Structure

倒 can also be used to express a concession, so it's often followed by 不过、但是、就是。

Subj. Verb + 倒 + ……,Concession

Examples

  • 你 说 得 挺 流利,就是 有 点 洋腔洋调。You speak very fluently, it's just that you have a little bit of an accent.
  • 你们 说 得 容易,不过 做 起来 很 难!It's easy to be said, but it's hard to be done!
  • 这 个 女孩 长得 漂亮,就是 太 矮 了。The girl looks really beautiful, but she's too short.

倒 Used Idiomatically

A useful little phrase to admit concession is 那倒也是, something like "I guess so, I hadn't thought of it like that before." Or if on the contrary you are unwilling to concede, 我倒不觉得 can be used.

  • 其他 老师 都 说 这 个 学生 很 笨,我 不 觉得。All the other teachers said this student is stupid, but I disagree.
  • 很 多 人 认为 钱 是 最 重要 的,我 不 觉得。 A lot of people think that money is the most important, but I don't think so.

For more on , be sure to check our C1 (advanced) grammar point on expressing contrariness with 倒.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books