<!DOCTYPE html> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head> <meta name="generator" content= "HTML Tidy for HTML5 for Linux version 5.2.0" /> <title></title> </head> <body> <p>The grammar pattern "虽然⋯⋯ 但是⋯⋯" (suīrán... dànshì...) is one of the most common used patterns in Chinese, especially in written Chinese. You can think of it as meaning "<a href="although" class= "uri" title="wikilink">although</a>," but unlike in English, you still need to follow it with a "<a href="but" class="uri" title= "wikilink">but</a>" word in Chinese.</p> <h2 id="structure">Structure</h2> <p>"虽然(suīrán) ⋯⋯ ，但是(dànshì) ⋯⋯ " expresses that while the former part of the sentence is true, there is an adverse reaction in the latter part.</p> <div class="jiegou"> <p>虽然 ⋯⋯ ，但是 / 可是 ⋯⋯</p> </div> <p>Simply put, the pattern means, <em>although..., but...</em> In English, you wouldn't normally need the "but" there, but it is required in Chinese. Be aware that "可是" can be used interchangeably with "但是" for the "but" part.</p> <h2 id="examples">Examples</h2> <div class="liju"> <ul> <li>他 <em>虽然</em> 不 想 去 ，<em>但是</em> 还是 去 了 。 <span class= "pinyin">Tā <em>suīrán</em> bù xiǎng qù, <em>dànshì</em> háishì qù le.</span><span class="trans">Although he didn't want to go, he did after all.</span></li> <li><em>虽然</em> 他 家 很 有钱，<em>可是</em> 他 从来 不 浪费 钱 。<span class= "pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, <em>kěshì</em> tā cónglái bù làngfèi qián.</span><span class="trans">Even though his family is rich, he never wastes money.</span></li> <li>这 件 衣服 <em>虽然</em> 有点 贵 ，<em>但是</em> 质量 很 好 。<span class= "pinyin">Zhè jiàn yīfu <em>suīrán</em> yǒudiǎn guì, <em>dànshì</em> zhìliàng hěn hǎo.</span><span class="trans">Although this piece of clothing is a little expensive, the quality is pretty good.</span></li> <li>他 <em>虽然</em> 有 错 ，<em>可是</em> 不 能 全 怪 他 。<span class= "pinyin">Tā <em>suīrán</em> yǒu cuò, <em>kěshì</em> bù néng quán guài tā.</span><span class="trans">Although he did something wrong, you can't blame him for all of it.</span></li> <li>你 <em>虽然</em> 学历 高 ，<em>可是</em> 没 行业 经验 。<span class= "pinyin">Nǐ <em>suīrán</em> xuélì gāo, <em>kěshì</em> méi hángyè jīngyàn.</span><span class="trans">Although you're well-educated, you don't have experience in this industry.</span></li> <li><em>虽然</em> 奶奶 已经 八十 多 了 ，<em>但是</em> 她 精神 很 好 。<span class= "pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> nǎinai yǐjīng bāshí duō le, <em>dànshì</em> tā jīngshén hěn hǎo.</span><span class= "trans">Although grandma is in her eighties, she look very well.</span></li> <li><em>虽然</em> 她 病 了 ，<em>可是</em> 她 没有 请假 。 <span class= "pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> tā bìng le, <em>kěshì</em> tā méiyǒu qǐngjià.</span><span class="trans">Although she's sick, she didn't ask for sick leave.</span></li> <li><em>虽然</em> 他 不 是 很 有 天赋 ，<em>可是</em> 他 非常 努力 。 <span class= "pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> tā bù shì hěn yǒu tiānfù, <em>kěshì</em> tā fēicháng nǔlì.</span><span class="trans">Although he's not very talented, he works very hard.</span></li> <li><em>虽然</em> 我们 准备 得 很 好 ，<em>但是</em> 还是 有点 紧张 。<span class= "pinyin"><em>Suīrán</em> wǒmen zhǔnbèi de hěn hǎo, <em>dànshì</em> háishì yǒudiǎn jǐnzhāng.</span><span class="trans">Although we all prepared very well, we're still a little nervous.</span></li> <li>我 认识 他 的 时间 <em>虽然</em> 不 长 ，<em>但是</em> 我 已经 很 了解 他 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ rènshi tā de shíjiān <em>suīrán</em> bù cháng, <em>dànshì</em> wǒ yǐjīng hěn liǎojiě tā le.</span><span class="trans">Although I haven't known him for a long time, I've known him very deeply.</span></li> </ul> </div> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul> <li><a href="Two_words_for_"but"" title="wikilink">Two words for "but"</a></li> <li><a href=""Although"_with_"jinguan"" title= "wikilink">"Although" with "jinguan"</a></li> </ul> <h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2> <h3 id="books">Books</h3> <ul> <li><a href="Basic_Patterns_of_Chinese_Grammar" title= "wikilink">Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar</a> (pp. 115-6) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href= "Common_Chinese_Patterns_330_(%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%B8%B8%E7%94%A8%E6%A0%BC%E5%BC%8F330%E4%BE%8B)" title="wikilink">Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例)</a> (pp. 217) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7802006473/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7802006473"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed)" title= "wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)</a> (pp. 245) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href="Modern_Mandarin_Chinese_Grammar:_A_Practical_Guide" title="wikilink">Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide</a> (pp. 256-7) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108"> →buy</a></li> <li><a href= "New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_2_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC2)" title="wikilink">New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)</a> (pp. 177) <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297"> →buy</a></li> </ul> <p><a href="Category:B1_grammar_points" title= "wikilink">Category:B1 grammar points</a></p> </body> </html>