虽然...但是... (although...but...)

• 拼音: suīrán...dànshì
• 结构: 虽然 + Concession，但是 / 可是 + Contrast
• 汉字拆解: 虽 = 口 (mouth) + 虫 (insect); 但 = 亻(person) + 旦 (dawn)

含义

Use 虽然 (suīrán) to introduce a concessive clause and 但是 (dànshì) or 可是 (kěshì) to introduce the contrasting main clause. This paired conjunction expresses 'although...but...' and is one of the most important complex sentence structures in Mandarin.

Unlike in English, where using 'although' and 'but' together in the same sentence is grammatically redundant, Chinese requires both 虽然 and 但是/可是 to form a complete concessive sentence. 虽然 can appear before or after the subject of the first clause: both 虽然他很忙 and 他虽然很忙 are correct. In casual speech, 虽然 is sometimes dropped and only 但是 or 可是 is used, but using only 虽然 without a contrasting clause sounds incomplete. 可是 is slightly more colloquial than 但是, and 不过 can also serve as the contrasting conjunction in informal contexts.

例句

1. 虽然今天很冷，但是公园里人还是很多。
2. 他虽然年纪不大，可是做事很成熟。
3. 虽然这家餐厅很贵，但是味道真的非常好。

用法指南

语境: spoken, written, everyday

语气: contrastive

正确说法

• 虽然路很远，但是风景很美。
• 她虽然刚来公司，可是表现很突出。
• 虽然已经很晚了，但是他还在加班。

错误说法

• 虽然这件衣服很好看。(虽然 must be paired with 但是 or 可是 — a sentence with only 虽然 is incomplete and leaves the listener expecting a contrast) → 虽然这件衣服很好看，但是太贵了。
• 虽然他很聪明，而且考试没及格。(而且 means 'moreover' and adds to the first clause — use 但是 or 可是 to express contrast — say 虽然他很聪明，但是考试没及格) → 虽然他很聪明，但是考试没及格。

起源与历史

虽然 derives from classical Chinese 虽 (meaning 'although' or 'even though'), with 然 added for rhythm and clarity. 但是 combines 但 (only/but) with 是 (to be) to form a stronger contrastive conjunction.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal