固然

• Pinyin: gù rán
• Hanzi breakdown: 固 = 囗 (enclosure) + 古 (ancient) — firm, solid, established fact; 然 = 灬 (fire) + 月 (flesh) + 犬 (dog) — originally roasting meat, extended to mean 'so, thus'

Meaning

Admittedly; granted; of course; it is true that — (but). A concessive connector used to acknowledge a valid point before presenting a contrasting or qualifying statement.

A classic concessive connector in formal written and spoken Chinese. Always anticipates a contrasting clause introduced by 但、然而, or 不过. The structure '固然…但…' is a standard rhetorical pattern in essays, debates, and formal speeches. Registers as relatively formal and is rarely used in casual conversation.

Examples

1. 速度固然重要，但质量才是赢得客户信任的根本保障。 Speed matters, of course, but quality is what truly wins customers’ trust.
2. 经济发展固然能改善生活水平，但环境代价不可忽视。 Economic growth can certainly improve living standards, but the environmental cost can’t be ignored.
3. 他的建议固然出发点是好的，实施起来却面临重重困难。 His suggestion may have come from a good place, but putting it into practice faces one obstacle after another.

Usage Guide

Context: academic writing, debate, formal speech, essays, argumentation

Tone: logical

Do Say

• 创新固然需要勇气，但没有扎实的基础知识作为支撑，往往只是空中楼阁。(Innovation admittedly requires courage, but without solid foundational knowledge as support, it is often nothing more than a castle in the air.)
• 个人努力固然是成功的重要因素，机遇与平台同样不可或缺。(Individual effort is admittedly an important factor in success, but opportunity and platform are equally indispensable.)

Don't Say

• 将'固然'单独使用而不引出转折 — 固然 always anticipates a contrasting clause; using it without a following qualifying statement leaves the sentence incomplete in meaning

Origin & History

固 (firm; certainly; admittedly) + 然 (so; thus; in that manner). Together they form a concessive expression acknowledging what is firmly the case before introducing a qualification.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Educated speakers, formal contexts