虽然……但是……

suīrán...dànshì...

Although... but... (虽然……但是……)

虽然...但是... means 'although... but...' Use it when the second idea contrasts with what the first idea would normally suggest.

Anchor example

虽然今天很冷，但是我还是想出去走走。

Suīrán jīntiān hěn lěng, dànshì wǒ háishi xiǎng chūqù zǒuzou.

Although it is cold today, I still want to go out for a walk.

HSK 2

1 structures

10 exercises

Lesson summary

虽然 + Fact，但是 + Contrast: 虽然...但是... means 'although... but...' Use it when the second idea contrasts with what the first idea would normally suggest.

Explanation

虽然 introduces a fact or situation, and 但是 introduces a contrasting result. Chinese commonly uses both words together, unlike English where 'although' and 'but' are not usually used together. 还是 often appears in the second clause to mean 'still.' Do not use 所以 if the second clause is a contrast rather than a result.

Structure Patterns

1 structures

Grammar pattern

虽然 + fact, 但是 + contrast

Shows contrast: although one thing is true, another unexpected thing is also true.

虽然今天很冷，但是我还是想出去走走。

Suīrán jīntiān hěn lěng, dànshì wǒ háishi xiǎng chūqù zǒuzou.

Although it is cold today, I still want to go out for a walk.

虽然这件衣服有点儿贵，但是很好看。

Suīrán zhè jiàn yīfu yǒudiǎnr guì, dànshì hěn hǎokàn.

Although this piece of clothing is a little expensive, it looks great.

Common Mistakes

虽然今天很冷，所以我想出去。虽然今天很冷，但是我想出去。
今天很冷，但是。（提示：although...but...）虽然今天很冷，但是我还是想出去。
虽然这件衣服很贵，但是所以我不买。

Usage Notes

虽然 introduces the conceded fact.
但是 introduces the contrasting second idea.
Do not mix 但是 and 所以 for the same relation.

Practice

10 exercises

1 / 10

Fill in the blank:

___今天很冷，但是我还是想出去。