41 expressing contrast
41.1 Expressing contrast with paired connecting words
Mandarin uses the following paired connecting words to express contrast.虽然... 可是or 虽然... 但是or 虽然... 不过
雖然... 可是 雖然... 但是 雖然... 不過
suīrán... kěshì suīrán... dànshì suīrán... bùguò
although... but although... but although... however可是 kěshì and 但是 dànshì are identical in meaning and are interchangeable. 不过/不過 bùguò
conveys a slightly stronger sense of contrariness to expectation.
The Chinese connecting words occur at the beginning of their clauses or right before the
predicate. Both members of the pair can occur in the same sentence. Although English permits
only a single contrast connector in a sentence, in order to best illustrate the usage of the Mandarin
words, the English translations in this section translate each connector in the Mandarin sentences.虽然他是中国人，可是他还喜欢吃日本菜。
雖然他是中國人，可是他還喜歡吃日本菜。
Suīrán tā shì Zhōngguó rén, kěshì tā hái xǐhuan chī Rìběn cài.
Although he is Chinese, but he still likes to eat Japanese food.虽然他是中国人，但是他没去过北京。
雖然他是中國人，但是他沒去過北京。
Suīrán tā shì Zhōngguó rén, dànshì tā méi qùguo Běijīng.
Although he is Chinese, but he has never been to Beijing.虽然他很有钱，可是我还不愿意嫁给他。
雖然他很有錢，可是我還不願意嫁給他。
Suīrán tā hěn yǒu qián, kěshì wǒ hái bù yuànyi jiàgěi tā.
Although he has a lot of money, but I’m still not willing to marry him.41.1.1 the placement of connecting words
If the subjects of the two clauses are identical in reference and the second one is not omitted,
虽然/雖然 suīrán typically occurs before the subject.虽然我哥哥已经三十岁了，但是他还没结婚。
雖然我哥哥已經三十歲了，但是他還沒結婚。
Suīrán wǒ gēge yǐjing sānshí suì le, dànshì tā hái méi jiéhūn.
Although my older brother is already 30 years old, but he still hasn’t married.When subjects of the two clauses in contrast sentences are identical in reference, the second
one is sometimes omitted. When this is the case, the connecting word 虽然/雖然 suīrán
typically occurs after the subject of the first clause.