{{Grammar Box}} 

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==

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

<div class="jiegou">
Sentence， Subj. + 却 + ⋯⋯
</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.


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.

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">

<ul>
<li class="x">我 等 了 她 很 长 时间 ，<strong>却</strong> 她 没 来 。 </li>
<li class="o">我 等 了 她 很 长 时间 ，她 <strong>却</strong> 没 来 。</li>
<li class="x">有 些 人 博客里 的 文章 不 多 ， <strong>却</strong> 内容 不 错 。</li>
<li class="o">有 些 人 博客里 的 文章 不 多 ， 但是 内容 <strong>却</strong> 不 错 .</li>
<li class="o">有 些 人 博客里 的 文章 不 多 ， 内容 <strong>却</strong> 不 错 。</li>
<li class="o">有 些 人 博客里 的 文章 不 多 ， 但是 内容 不 错 。</li>
</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 用 的 潜水 装备 都 很 专业，但是 他 的 水平  <em>却</em> 很 低。<span class="trans">His diving equipment is all specialized, but his level is quite low.</span>
* 虽然 是 自己 种 的 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>
* 他 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>
</div>

==See also==
*[[Expressing Contrariness with "dao"]]
*[["On the Contrary" with "fan'er"]]
*[[A Softer "But"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

=== 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]

[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
{{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"}}
{{Similar|"On the Contrary" with "fan'er"}}
{{Similar|A Softer "But"}}
{{Used for|Contrasting}}
{{Used for|Differentiating}}
{{Structure|"But" Statements}}
{{Translation|but}}
{{Translation|however}}