Difference between revisions of "The "however" adverb "que""

 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
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却 (què) is used to indicate something was contrary to expectations, and is used in a similar way to [[Expressing Contrariness with "dao"|倒 (dào)]]. However, 却 is generally followed by a negative comment.
  
却 (què) is used to indicate something was contrary to expectations, and is used in a similar way to [[Expressing Contrariness with "dao"|倒]]. However, it is generally followed by a negative comment:
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== Structure ==
 
 
==Structure==
 
  
 
The overall structure of sentences that use 却 is something like this:
 
The overall structure of sentences that use 却 is something like this:
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
Sentence ,Subj. + 却 ⋯⋯
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Sentence ,(但是 +) Subj. + 却 ⋯⋯
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
Normally the first clause above makes a statement, and then the second clause introduces something contrary, generally in the form of a negative comment.
 
Normally the first clause above makes a statement, and then the second clause introduces something contrary, generally in the form of a negative comment.
  
 +
== Examples ==
  
It's also important to point out that 却 is not a [[conjunctions|conjunction]]; it's an [[adverbs|adverb]].  Practically speaking, this means that rather than joining two statements, it goes ''inside'' a statement (within the second clause).  Specifically, it needs to come ''after the subject'' and ''before the verb''.  (Note that when you use a conjunction like 但是 it comes ''before'' the subject!  却 is different in this respect.  Also, rather than ''replacing'' 但是, it can work with it to add emphasis.
+
In the following examples, take note that comes ''after'' the subject in each case, and that it can be used together with 但是.
 
 
Also, sometimes the subject of the second clause will be omitted.  If there is a subject, however, 却 definitely needs to come ''after'' it.
 
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
<ul>
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*他 是 老板 ,<em>却</em> 没有 人 听 他 的 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì lǎobǎn, <em>què</em> méiyǒu rén tīng tā de.</span><span class="trans">He's the boss, but nobody listens to him.</span>
<li class="x">我 等 了 她 很 长 时间 ,<strong></strong> 她 没 来 。 </li>
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*他 的 学历 高 ,能力 <em>却</em> 很 一般 <span class="pinyin">Tā de xuélì hěn gāo, nénglì <em>què</em> hěn yībān.</span><span class="trans">He's very well-educated, but his ability is average.</span>
<li class="o">我 等 了 她 长 时间 ,她 <strong>却</strong> 没 来 。</li>
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*他们 一见钟情 , <em>却</em> 没有 在 一起 <span class="pinyin">Tāmen yījiànzhōngqíng, <em>què</em> méiyǒu zài yīqǐ.</span><span class="trans">They fell in love at first sight, but they didn't end up with each other.</span>
<li class="x">有 些 人 博客里 的 文章 不 多 , <strong>却</strong> 内容 不 错 。</li>
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*这 件 衣服 虽然 是 名牌 <em>但是</em> 质量 <em>却</em> 不 怎么样 。<span class="pinyin">Zhè jiàn yīfu suīrán shì míngpái, <em>dànshì</em> zhìliàng <em>què</em> bù zěnmeyàng.</span><span class="trans">Although this clothing is brand-name, the quality is not so good.</span>
<li class="o">有 些 人 博客里 的 文章 不 多 , 但是 内容 <strong>却</strong> 不 .</li>
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*有些 智商 很 高 ,情商 <em>却</em> 很 低 <span class="pinyin">Yǒuxiē rén zhìshāng hěn gāo, qíngshāng <em>què</em> hěn dī.</span><span class="trans">Some people have high IQ, but really low EQ.</span>
<li class="o">有 些 博客里 的 文章 不 多 , 内容 <strong>却</strong> 不 错 。</li>
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*他 只有 16 岁,<em>却</em> 比 同龄人 成熟 得 多 。<span class="pinyin">Tā zhǐyǒu shíliù suì, <em>què</em> bǐ tónglíng rén chéngshú de duō.</span><span class="trans">He's only sixteen, but he's much more mature than others his age.</span>
<li class="o">有 些 人 博客里 的 文章 不 , 但是 内容 不 错 。</li>
 
</ul>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==Examples==
+
== Common Mistake: Putting 却 Before the Subject ==
 +
 
 +
It's also important to point out that 却 is not a [[conjunction]]; it's an [[adverb]].  Practically speaking, this means that rather than joining two statements, it goes ''inside'' a statement (within the second clause).  Specifically, it needs to come ''after the subject'' and ''before the verb''.  (Note that when you use a conjunction like 但是 it comes ''before'' the subject!  却 is different in this respect.  Also, rather than ''replacing'' 但是, it can work ''with'' it to add emphasis.)
  
In the following examples, take note that comes ''after'' the subject in each case, and that it can be used together with 但是.
+
Sometimes the subject of the second clause will be omitted. If there is a subject, however, 却 definitely needs to come ''after'' it.
 +
 
 +
A few examples to give you a better understanding of this:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 他 用 潜水 装备 都 很 专业,但是 他 水平  <em>却</em> 很 低。<span class="trans">His diving equipment is all specialized, but his level is quite low.</span>
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* 虽然 自己 种 菜,不过 味道 <em>却</em> 没有 超市 的 好。<span class="trans">Although it's home-grown veggies, it's flavor just isn't as good as the supermarket's.</span>
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<ul>
* 只有 16 岁,想法 <em>却</em> 比 20 几 岁 的 人 还 成熟。<span class="trans">He's only sixteen, but his perspectives are more mature than people in their twenties.</span>
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<li class="x">我 是 你 最好 朋友 ,<em>却</em> <strong>你</strong> 没 邀请 我 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ shì nǐ zuì hǎo de péngyou, <em>què</em> <strong>nǐ</strong> méi yāoqǐng wǒ.</span></li>
 +
<li class="o">我 是 你 最好 朋友 ,<strong>你</strong> <em>却</em> 没 邀请 我 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ shì nǐ zuì hǎo de péngyou, <strong>nǐ</strong> <em>què</em> méi yāoqǐng wǒ.</span></li>
 +
<li class="o">我 你 最好 朋友 ,<strong>但是</strong> 你 <em>却</em> 没 邀请 我 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ shì nǐ zuì hǎo de péngyou, <strong>dànshì</strong> nǐ <em>què</em> méi yāoqǐng wǒ.</span><span class="trans">I'm your best friend, but you didn't invite me.</span></li>
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</ul>
 +
 
 +
<ul>
 +
<li class="x">他 家 很 有钱 ,<em>却</em> <strong>他</strong> 从来 不 炫耀 。<span class="pinyin">Tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, <em>què</em> <strong>tā</strong> cónglái bù xuànyào.</span></li>
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<li class="o">他 家 很 有钱 ,<strong>他</strong> <em>却</em> 从来 不 炫耀 。<span class="pinyin">Tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, <strong>tā</strong> <em>què</em> cónglái bù xuànyào.</span></li>
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<li class="o">他 家 很 有钱 ,<strong>但是</strong> 他 <em>却</em> 从来 不 炫耀 。<span class="pinyin">Tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, <strong>dànshì</strong> tā <em>què</em> cónglái bù xuànyào.</span><span class="trans">His family is rich, but he never flaunts it.</span></li>
 +
</ul>
 +
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==See also==
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== See also ==
 +
 
 
*[[Expressing Contrariness with "dao"]]
 
*[[Expressing Contrariness with "dao"]]
 
*[["On the Contrary" with "fan'er"]]
 
*[["On the Contrary" with "fan'er"]]
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
* [[Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) ]] (pp.140-2) [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ →buy]
+
 
* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (p. 184) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 4上|22}}
 +
{{Source|Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) |140-2}}
 +
{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)|184}}
  
 
[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
 +
{{HSK|HSK4}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|却|B2|⋯⋯,却⋯⋯|他们 一见钟情 , <em>却</em> 没有 在 一起 。|grammar point|ASGEG2QB}}
 
{{Basic Grammar|却|B2|⋯⋯,却⋯⋯|他们 一见钟情 , <em>却</em> 没有 在 一起 。|grammar point|ASGEG2QB}}
{{Similar|Expressing Contrariness with "dao"}}
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{{Similar|A Softer "But"}}
 
{{Similar|"On the Contrary" with "fan'er"}}
 
{{Similar|"On the Contrary" with "fan'er"}}
{{Similar|A Softer "But"}}
+
{{Similar|Expressing contrariness with "dao"}}
 
{{Used for|Contrasting}}
 
{{Used for|Contrasting}}
 
{{Used for|Differentiating}}
 
{{Used for|Differentiating}}

Latest revision as of 02:39, 29 December 2020

Chinese-grammar-wiki-que.jpg

却 (què) is used to indicate something was contrary to expectations, and is used in a similar way to 倒 (dào). However, 却 is generally followed by a negative comment.

Structure

The overall structure of sentences that use 却 is something like this:

Sentence ,(但是 +) Subj. + 却 ⋯⋯

Normally the first clause above makes a statement, and then the second clause introduces something contrary, generally in the form of a negative comment.

Examples

In the following examples, take note that 却 comes after the subject in each case, and that it can be used together with 但是.

  • 他 是 老板 , 没有 人 听 他 的 。Tā shì lǎobǎn, què méiyǒu rén tīng tā de.He's the boss, but nobody listens to him.
  • 他 的 学历 很 高 ,能力 很 一般 。Tā de xuélì hěn gāo, nénglì què hěn yībān.He's very well-educated, but his ability is average.
  • 他们 一见钟情 , 没有 在 一起 。Tāmen yījiànzhōngqíng, què méiyǒu zài yīqǐ.They fell in love at first sight, but they didn't end up with each other.
  • 这 件 衣服 虽然 是 名牌 ,但是 质量 不 怎么样 。Zhè jiàn yīfu suīrán shì míngpái, dànshì zhìliàng què bù zěnmeyàng.Although this clothing is brand-name, the quality is not so good.
  • 有些 人 智商 很 高 ,情商 很 低 。Yǒuxiē rén zhìshāng hěn gāo, qíngshāng què hěn dī.Some people have high IQ, but really low EQ.
  • 他 只有 16 岁, 比 同龄人 成熟 得 多 。Tā zhǐyǒu shíliù suì, què bǐ tónglíng rén chéngshú de duō.He's only sixteen, but he's much more mature than others his age.

Common Mistake: Putting 却 Before the Subject

It's also important to point out that 却 is not a conjunction; it's an adverb. Practically speaking, this means that rather than joining two statements, it goes inside a statement (within the second clause). Specifically, it needs to come after the subject and before the verb. (Note that when you use a conjunction like 但是 it comes before the subject! 却 is different in this respect. Also, rather than replacing 但是, it can work with it to add emphasis.)

Sometimes the subject of the second clause will be omitted. If there is a subject, however, 却 definitely needs to come after it.

A few examples to give you a better understanding of this:

  • 我 是 你 最好 的 朋友 , 没 邀请 我 。Wǒ shì nǐ zuì hǎo de péngyou, què méi yāoqǐng wǒ.
  • 我 是 你 最好 的 朋友 , 没 邀请 我 。Wǒ shì nǐ zuì hǎo de péngyou, què méi yāoqǐng wǒ.
  • 我 是 你 最好 的 朋友 ,但是 没 邀请 我 。Wǒ shì nǐ zuì hǎo de péngyou, dànshìquè méi yāoqǐng wǒ.I'm your best friend, but you didn't invite me.
  • 他 家 很 有钱 , 从来 不 炫耀 。Tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, què cónglái bù xuànyào.
  • 他 家 很 有钱 , 从来 不 炫耀 。Tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, què cónglái bù xuànyào.
  • 他 家 很 有钱 ,但是 从来 不 炫耀 。Tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, dànshìquè cónglái bù xuànyào.His family is rich, but he never flaunts it.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books