虽然…但是/可是… (Although…Yet…) | Chinese (Mandarin) Grammar

虽然…但是… (suīrán…dànshì…) is the first sentence pattern where English grammar actively fights you. In English you learn early that "although" and "but" cannot appear in the same sentence — "Although it's expensive, but it's good" is marked wrong in every classroom. In Chinese the opposite is true: the second "but" is not redundant, it is mandatory. Chinese builds concession as a balanced two-part frame — 虽然 opens the concession, and 但是 (or 可是 / 不过) closes it. Drop the second half and the sentence sounds unfinished to a native ear, the way "Although it's expensive…" trails off in English.

The paired frame

Think of 虽然…但是… as a set of matching brackets. 虽然 (although) flags the first clause as "yes, I grant this"; 但是 (but) pivots to the point you actually want to make. The two words lean on each other:

Slot	Word	Job
Clause 1 opener	虽然 (suīrán)	"although / even though" — concedes a fact
Clause 2 opener	但是 (dànshì)	"but / yet" — neutral, the default pivot
Clause 2 opener	可是 (kěshì)	"but" — a touch softer, more conversational
Clause 2 opener	不过 (búguò)	"but / though" — softest, most spoken

Unlike English, Chinese does not force you to choose one word or the other — it wants both ends of the bracket. This is the single most important habit to build on this page.

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's cold today, I still want to go out for a walk. (informal)

这件衣服虽然有点贵，但是质量真的很好。

zhè jiàn yīfu suīrán yǒudiǎn guì, dànshì zhìliàng zhēnde hěn hǎo

This piece of clothing is a bit pricey, but the quality really is good. (informal)

虽然我们输了比赛，但是打得很精彩。

suīrán wǒmen shū le bǐsài, dànshì dǎ de hěn jīngcǎi

Although we lost the match, we played brilliantly. (neutral)

💡

The rule to burn in: if you started with 虽然, you owe the sentence a 但是/可是/不过. English's "no double conjunction" instinct is exactly backwards here. Say the whole frame out loud until closing it feels automatic.

Where 虽然 sits: before or after the subject

Unlike English "although," which must open its clause, 虽然 has a choice: it can stand before the subject or slot in right after it. Both are completely natural, and the meaning is identical — the difference is only rhythm and mild emphasis.

虽然他很年轻，但是很有经验。

suīrán tā hěn niánqīng, dànshì hěn yǒu jīngyàn

Although he's young, he's very experienced. (虽然 before the subject)

他虽然很年轻，但是很有经验。

tā suīrán hěn niánqīng, dànshì hěn yǒu jīngyàn

He may be young, but he's very experienced. (虽然 after the subject — puts the spotlight on him)

The rule of thumb: if the two clauses share the same subject, tucking 虽然 after that subject reads a little more smoothly. If the subjects differ, put 虽然 out front so each clause carries its own subject clearly.

虽然大家都反对，但是他还是坚持了自己的决定。

suīrán dàjiā dōu fǎnduì, dànshì tā háishi jiānchí le zìjǐ de juédìng

Even though everyone objected, he still stuck to his own decision. (different subjects — 虽然 leads)

Choosing between 但是, 可是, and 不过

All three close the frame; they differ only in softness. 但是 is the neutral workhorse — safe in speech and writing. 可是 carries a faint note of feeling or protest, common in conversation. 不过 is the gentlest, often used to add a small reservation almost as an afterthought. You can also reinforce the pivot with the adverb 却 (què), which sits before the verb rather than at the clause opening.

虽然我很想帮你，可是我实在没有时间。

suīrán wǒ hěn xiǎng bāng nǐ, kěshì wǒ shízài méiyǒu shíjiān

Although I'd really like to help you, I honestly don't have the time. (可是 — a note of regret)

手机虽然修好了，不过还是有点卡。

shǒujī suīrán xiū hǎo le, búguò háishi yǒudiǎn kǎ

The phone is fixed, but it's still a bit laggy. (不过 — a mild afterthought)

虽然天气不好，我们却玩得很开心。

suīrán tiānqì bù hǎo, wǒmen què wán de hěn kāixīn

Although the weather was bad, we still had a great time. (却 sits before the verb, not at the clause head)

For the wider "but / however" family — including formal 然而 and the balanced-contrast 而 — see 而 / 然而 / 不过. When the concession is a stronger "even though / despite," Chinese reaches for 尽管…还是…; when it's a hypothetical "even if," it uses 即使…也….

Common Mistakes

1. Dropping 但是 — the English-transfer error. Because English bans "although…but…," learners write only the 虽然 half and stop. To a Chinese ear the sentence hangs unfinished.

❌ 虽然这个地方很小。

Incomplete — 虽然 opened a bracket that was never closed; it needs a 但是/可是 clause.

✅ 虽然这个地方很小，但是很温馨。

suīrán zhège dìfang hěn xiǎo, dànshì hěn wēnxīn

Although this place is small, it's very cozy.

2. Keeping only 但是 when you meant to concede. 但是 alone is fine for a plain "but," but if you want the "although X, nevertheless Y" flavor, open with 虽然 so the concession is explicit.

❌ 我很喜欢这个工作，但是压力很大，我还是想做。

Muddled — without 虽然 the listener can't tell which clause is the concession.

✅ 虽然这个工作压力很大，但是我还是很喜欢，想继续做。

suīrán zhège gōngzuò yālì hěn dà, dànshì wǒ háishi hěn xǐhuan, xiǎng jìxù zuò

Even though this job is stressful, I still really like it and want to keep doing it.

3. Putting 虽然 in the second clause. 虽然 always belongs to the conceded clause (the first one). It cannot introduce the main point.

❌ 这个手机很好，虽然有点贵。

Reversed — the conceded 'a bit pricey' should carry 虽然 and come first, or use 不过 here instead.

✅ 这个手机虽然有点贵，但是很好用。

zhège shǒujī suīrán yǒudiǎn guì, dànshì hěn hǎoyòng

This phone is a bit pricey, but it works really well.

Key Takeaways

Chinese concession is a paired frame: 虽然 opens, 但是/可是/不过 closes — you need both ends.
English's "no double conjunction" rule is the exact opposite; expect to fight the instinct to drop the second "but."
虽然 can sit before or after the subject; 但是 (neutral) > 可是 (softer, spoken) > 不过 (softest) in gentleness; 却 does the same job but stands before the verb.
虽然 always marks the conceded clause and comes first; the main point rides in the 但是 clause.

Now practice Chinese

Reading grammar gets you part of the way. The exercises are where it sticks — free, no signup needed.

Start learning Chinese→