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

 
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却 (què) is used to indicate something was contrary to expectations, and is used in a similar way to 倒.
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{{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"|(dào)]]. However, 却 is generally followed by a negative comment.
  
For example:
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== Structure ==
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The overall structure of sentences that use 却 is something like this:
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<div class="jiegou">
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Sentence ,(但是 +) Subj. + 却 ⋯⋯
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</div>
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Normally the first clause above makes a statement, and then the second clause introduces something contrary, generally in the form of a negative comment.
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== Examples ==
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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.
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
* 他 只有 16 岁,想法 <em>却</em> 比 20 几 岁 人 还 成熟。
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* 他 潜水 装备 都 专业,但是 他 的 水平  <em>却</em> 很 低。
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*他 是 老板 ,<em>却</em> 没有 人 听 他 。<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>
* 虽然 是 自己 种 的 菜,不过 味道 <em>却</em> 没有 超市 的 好。
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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>
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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>
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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>
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*有些 人 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>
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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>
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</div>
 
</div>
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== Common Mistake: Putting 却 Before the Subject ==
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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.)
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Sometimes the subject of the second clause will be omitted. If there is a subject, however, 却 definitely needs to come ''after'' it.
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A few examples to give you a better understanding of this:
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<div class="liju">
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<ul>
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<li class="x">我 是 你 最好 的 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>
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<li class="o">我 是 你 最好 的 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>
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<li class="o">我 是 你 最好 的 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>
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<ul>
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<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>
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</ul>
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</div>
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== See also ==
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*[[Expressing Contrariness with "dao"]]
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*[["On the Contrary" with "fan'er"]]
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*[[A Softer "But"]]
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== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 4上|22}}
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{{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}}
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)|184}}
  
 
[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK4}}
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{{Basic Grammar|却|B2|⋯⋯,却⋯⋯|他们 一见钟情 , <em>却</em> 没有 在 一起 。|grammar point|ASGEG2QB}}
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{{Similar|A Softer "But"}}
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{{Similar|"On the Contrary" with "fan'er"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing contrariness with "dao"}}
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{{Used for|Contrasting}}
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{{Used for|Differentiating}}
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{{Structure|"But" Statements}}
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{{Translation|but}}
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{{Translation|however}}

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