却

• 拼音: què
• 汉字拆解: 却 = 去 (go away) + 卩 (kneeling person) — stepping back, a reversal or contrast

含义

Yet; but; however. An adverb expressing contrast or unexpectedness, placed before the verb.

Used in the second clause of a sentence to introduce a contrast or unexpected turn. Unlike 但是 or 可是 (which begin a clause), 却 is placed after the subject and before the verb. It often implies that the reality contradicts what was expected. Very common in both spoken and written Chinese at this level.

例句

1. 他学了很多年英语，却还是不敢开口说。
2. 这道菜看起来简单，做起来却很难。
3. 我叫了他好几次，他却假装没听见。

用法指南

语境: writing, storytelling, everyday

语气: contrastive

正确说法

• 天气预报说会下雨，天空却很晴朗。(The forecast said it would rain, yet the sky was clear.)
• 大家都同意了，只有他却反对。(Everyone agreed, but only he objected.)

错误说法

• 却他不来了 (Don't place 却 before the subject — it must go after the subject and before the verb; say 他却不来了 instead)

起源与历史

The character 却 originally depicted stepping backwards, conveying the sense of retreat or reversal — hence its use as a contrastive adverb meaning 'on the contrary'.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal