虽然…但是… suīrán… dànshì…

虽然…但是…（suīrán… dànshì…）means “although… but…: concede a fact, then state the opposite result”. 虽然 introduces a fact you concede; 但是 (or 可是) introduces the contrasting result. Formation: 虽然 + 事实（让步分句），但是/可是 + 相反结果

although… but…: concede a fact, then state the opposite result

HSK3

Formation

虽然 + 事实（让步分句），但是/可是 + 相反结果

Explanation

虽然 introduces a fact you concede; 但是 (or 可是) introduces the contrasting result. Unlike English, which drops 'but' after 'although', Chinese keeps both connectives. 虽然 can go before or after the subject.

Examples

虽然 下雨，但是 我们还是去了。
suīrán xià yǔ, dànshì wǒmen háishi qù le.
Although it was raining, we still went.
虽然 他很累，但是 他还在工作。
suīrán tā hěn lèi, dànshì tā hái zài gōngzuò.
Although he is tired, he is still working.

Note

Keep 但是; don't drop it. ❌ 虽然下雨，我们去了 ✅ 虽然下雨，但是我们去了。 可是/不过 can replace 但是.

FAQ

虽然…但是… — what does it mean and how is it used?

although… but…: concede a fact, then state the opposite result. 虽然 introduces a fact you concede; 但是 (or 可是) introduces the contrasting result. Unlike English, which drops 'but' after 'although', Chinese keeps both connectives. 虽然 can go before or after the subject.

虽然…但是… — how do you form it?

虽然 + 事实（让步分句），但是/可是 + 相反结果

虽然…但是… — any usage notes?

Keep 但是; don't drop it. ❌ 虽然下雨，我们去了 ✅ 虽然下雨，但是我们去了。 可是/不过 can replace 但是.

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