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 [[Expressing Contrariness with "dao"|倒 (dào)]]. However, 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:
 
  
 
== Structure ==
 
== Structure ==
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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.
 
Normally the first clause above makes a statement, and then the second clause introduces something contrary, generally in the form of a negative comment.
  
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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== 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">
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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>
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*他 的 学历 很 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>
 +
*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>
 +
*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>
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 +
== 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.)
  
Also, sometimes the subject of the second clause will be omitted. If there is a subject, however, 却 definitely needs to come ''after'' it.
+
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:
 
A few examples to give you a better understanding of this:
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<ul>
 
<ul>
<li class="x">我 是 你 最好 的 朋友 ,<strong>却</strong> 你 没 邀请 我 。</li>
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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>
<li class="o">我 是 你 最好 的 朋友 ,你 <strong>却</strong> 没 邀请 我 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ shì nǐ zuì hǎo de péngyǒu, nǐ <strong>què</strong> méi yāoqǐng wǒ.</span><span class="trans">I'm your best friend, but you didn't invite me.</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>
<li class="o">我 是 你 最好 的 朋友 ,<em>但是</em> 你 <strong>却</strong> 没 邀请 我 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ shì nǐ zuì hǎo de péngyǒu, <em>dànshì</em> nǐ <strong>què</strong> méi yāoqǐng wǒ.</span><span class="trans">I'm your best friend, but you didn't invite me.</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>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
  
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li class="x">他 家 很 有钱 ,<strong>却</strong> 他 从来 不 炫耀 。</li>
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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>
<li class="o">他 家 很 有钱 ,他 <strong>却</strong> 从来 不 炫耀 。<span class="pinyin">Tā jiā hěn yǒu qián, tā <strong>què</strong> cónglái bù xuànyào.</span><span class="trans">His family is rich, but he never flaunts it.</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>
<li class="o">他 家 很 有钱 ,<em>但是</em> 他 <strong>却</strong> 从来 不 炫耀 。<span class="pinyin">Tā jiā hěn yǒu qián, <em>dànshì</em> tā <strong>què</strong> cónglái bù xuànyào.</span><span class="trans">His family is rich, but he never flaunts it.</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>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
 
== 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.
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
*他 是 老板 ,<em>却</em> 没有 人 听 他 的 。<span class="trans">He's the boss, but nobody would listen to him.</span>
 
*他 的 学历 很 高 ,能力 <em>却</em> 很 一般 。<span class="trans">He's very well-educated, but his ability is average.</span>
 
*他们 一见钟情 , <em>却</em> 没有 在 一起 。<span class="trans">They fell in love at first sight, but they didn't end up with each other.</span>
 
*这 件 衣服 虽然 是 名牌 ,<em>但是</em> 质量 <em>却</em> 不 怎么样 。<span class="trans">This piece of clothing is brandname, but the quality is not so good.</span>
 
*有些 人 智商 很 高 ,情商 <em>却</em> 很 低 。<span class="trans">Some people have high IQ, but their EQ is, on the contrary, quite low.</span>
 
*他 只有 16 岁,<em>却</em> 比 同龄人 成熟 得多 。<span class="trans">He's only sixteen, but he's more mature than people at his age.</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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{{HSK|HSK4}}
 
{{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"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing contrariness with "dao"}}
{{Similar|Expressing "however" with "ran'er"}}
 
 
{{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