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<title>Expressing "although" with "suiran" and "danshi"</title>
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<h1>Expressing "although" with "suiran" and "danshi"
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<p>The grammar pattern 虽然⋯⋯ 但是⋯⋯ (suīrán... dànshì...) is one of the most commonly used patterns in Chinese, especially in written Chinese. You can think of it as meaning "although," but unlike in English, you still need to follow it up with a "but" word in Chinese.</p>

<h2>Contents</h2>

  
<div class="contents"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">1 Structure </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">2 Examples </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">3 See also </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">4 Sources and further reading </span></li>
<ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">4.1 Books</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
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<h3>Structure</h3>

<p>虽然⋯⋯ 但是⋯⋯ expresses that while the former part of the sentence is true, there is an adverse reaction in the latter part.</p>

<div class="deux">虽然 ⋯⋯ ，但是 / 可是 ⋯⋯</div>

<p>Simply put, the pattern means, although..., but... 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. Also note that 还是 can be used after 但是 for emphasis, meaning "still."</p>

<h3>Examples</h3>

<div class="exemple"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">虽然 外面 很 冷 ，可是 里面 很 暖和 。
Suīrán wàimiàn hěn lěng, kěshì lǐmiàn hěn nuǎnhuo.
Although it's cold outside, it's warm inside.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">这 件 衣服 虽然 有点 贵 ，但是 质量 很 好 。
Zhè jiàn yīfu suīrán yǒudiǎn guì, dànshì zhìliàng hěn hǎo.
Although this piece of clothing is a little expensive, the quality is pretty good. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">他 虽然 不 想 去 ，但是 还是 去 了 。
Tā suīrán bù xiǎng qù, dànshì háishì qù le.
Although he didn't want to go, he ended up going. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">虽然 他 家 很 有钱 ，可是 他 从来 不 浪费 钱 。
Suīrán tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, kěshì tā cónglái bù làngfèi qián.
Even though his family is rich, he never wastes money. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">我 妹妹 虽然 很 胖 ，可是 很 灵活 。
Wǒ mèimei suīrán hěn pàng, kěshì hěn línghuó.
Although my little sister is fat, she is flexible. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">虽然 她 准备 得 很 好 ，但是 还是 有点 紧张 。
Suīrán tā zhǔnbèi de hěn hǎo, dànshì háishì yǒudiǎn jǐnzhāng.
Although she's prepared very well, she's still a little nervous. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">你 虽然 学历 高 ，可是 没有 工作 经验 。
Nǐ suīrán xuélì gāo, kěshì méiyǒu gōngzuò jīngyàn.
Although you're well-educated, you don't have working experience. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">奶奶 虽然 八十 多 岁 了 ，但是 她 精神 很 好 。
Nǎinai suīrán bāshí duō suì le, dànshì tā jīngshén hěn hǎo.
Although grandma is in her eighties, she look very well. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">虽然 你们 没有 赢 ，但是 我 知道 大家 尽力 了 。
Suīrán nǐmen méiyǒu yíng, dànshì wǒ zhīdao dàjiā jìnlì le.
You didn't win, but I know all of you did your best. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 20px;">虽然 我 认识 他 很长 时间 了 ，但是 我 还是 不 了解 他 。
Suīrán wǒ rènshi tā hěn cháng shíjiān le, dànshì wǒ háishì bù liǎojiě tā.
Although I've known him for a long time, I don't know much about him.</span><br/></li>
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<h3>See also</h3>

<div class="See-also"><ul><li><span style="font-size: 20px;">Two words for "but"
"Although" with "jinguan"</span><br/></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3>Sources and further reading</h3>

<h4>Books</h4>

<div class="See-also">Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 115-6) →buy </div>
<div class="See-also">Common Chinese Patterns 330 (汉语常用格式330例) (pp. 217) →buy </div>
<div class="See-also">Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 245) →buy </div>
<div class="See-also">Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 256-7) →buy </div>
<div class="See-also">New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 177) →buy</div>
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