Concession: 虽然…但是…
虽然 concedes a fact and 但是 (or 可是) says what happens anyway. As with 因为…所以…, both halves are kept.
结构
虽然 + 事实，但是／可是 + 相反的结果
讲解
本文中的中文词语都可以激活，查看词典释义。
marks a fact you are granting; or then introduces what happens in spite of it: ， “Although it’s cold today, I still want to go running.” As with ……, Chinese keeps both halves where English keeps one, and dropping leaves the sentence sounding unfinished to a Chinese ear. and mean the same thing; is a little more conversational. stands at the head of its own clause — either before the subject (…) or immediately after it (…) — but never after the predicate. The second clause often strengthens the contrast with or : ， “Even though I’m tired, I’m still happy.” Finally, the pairing is fixed: leads to or , and never to .
正确
Say each one out loud before moving on. The audio is a reference pronunciation, not a model to imitate exactly — match the tone contour, not the voice.
虽然今天很冷，但是我还是想去跑步。雖然今天很冷，但是我還是想去跑步。
Suīrán (first tone, high and level) jīntiān (first tone, high and level) hěn (third tone, dipping) lěng, (third tone, dipping) dànshì (fourth tone, falling) wǒ (third tone, dipping) háishi (second tone, rising) xiǎng (third tone, dipping) qù (fourth tone, falling) pǎobù. (third tone, dipping)···
Although it’s cold today, I still want to go running.
这家饭馆虽然不大，可是菜很好吃。這家飯館雖然不大，可是菜很好吃。
Zhè (fourth tone, falling) jiā (first tone, high and level) fànguǎn (fourth tone, falling) suīrán (first tone, high and level) bú (second tone, rising) dà, (fourth tone, falling) kěshì (third tone, dipping) cài (fourth tone, falling) hěn (third tone, dipping) hǎochī. (third tone, dipping)···
This restaurant isn’t big, but the food is delicious.
虽然他学汉语的时间不长，但是说得很好。雖然他學漢語的時間不長，但是說得很好。
Suīrán (first tone, high and level) tā (first tone, high and level) xué (second tone, rising) Hànyǔ (fourth tone, falling) de (neutral tone) shíjiān (second tone, rising) bù (fourth tone, falling) cháng, (second tone, rising) dànshì (fourth tone, falling) shuō (first tone, high and level) de (neutral tone) hěn (third tone, dipping) hǎo. (third tone, dipping)···
Although he hasn’t been learning Chinese for long, he speaks it very well.
错误 — 常见错误
These sentences are wrong. They are printed here on purpose, each one paired with the repair and the reason, because the error you can recognise is the error you stop making.
不太对
Incorrect sentence: 虽然他很累，他去上班了。
正确
Correct sentence: 虽然他很累，但是他去上班了。
为什么: Chinese keeps both halves of the pair. Without 但是 (or 可是) the second clause has nothing marking the contrast.
不太对
Incorrect sentence: 虽然下雨，所以我们没去。
正确
Correct sentence: 因为下雨，所以我们没去。
为什么: 虽然 announces a contrast, not a cause. If the second clause really is the natural result, the opening word must be 因为.
不太对
Incorrect sentence: 这家饭馆不大虽然，可是菜很好吃。
正确
Correct sentence: 这家饭馆虽然不大，可是菜很好吃。
为什么: 虽然 opens the clause it belongs to. It goes before the subject or right after it, never after the predicate.
对比
Most errors with this pattern are not errors about this pattern — they are a neighbouring pattern arriving at the wrong moment. Read these side by side.
Both are two-word frames around two clauses, and the halves are easy to cross. Ask whether the second clause is what you would expect from the first. If it is, the frame is 因为…所以…: 因为他很忙，所以他没来. If it is the opposite of what you would expect, the frame is 虽然…但是…: 虽然他很忙，但是他还是来了. The pairs are never mixed, and neither one may be reduced to a single word at this level.
Cause and result: 因为…所以… →小测验
第 1 题 / 3总分: 0
Fill the gap: “Although this flat is small, it’s cheap.”
虽然这个房子很小，___ 很便宜。