Новая грамматическая тема: конструкция «хоть ... и ...», например: «Хоть я и устал, я всё равно читаю».

It introduces a concession: one fact is true, but it does not stop the main action.

In Хоть я и устал, я всё равно читаю, the first part gives an obstacle:

• я устал = I am tired

The second part says what happens anyway:

• я всё равно читаю = I still read / I read anyway

So the pattern is similar to English although, even though, or while ... still ....

The и is a normal part of this construction. It helps connect the concessive part more tightly.

Compare:

• Хоть я и устал, я читаю.
• Хотя я устал, я читаю.

Both are correct, but with хоть ... и ..., the и usually appears before the predicate or the key word in that clause.

In Хоть я и устал:

• хоть introduces the concessive idea
• я is the subject
• и устал completes the concessive clause

For learners, it is best to memorize this as a set pattern: хоть + ... + и + ...

Yes, often you can.

These are both natural:

• Хоть я и устал, я всё равно читаю.
• Хотя я устал, я всё равно читаю.

The difference is mostly one of style and nuance:

• хотя is the more straightforward, neutral word for although
• хоть ... и ... often sounds a little more emphatic or stylistically marked

In many everyday situations, either one works.

Yes, it is the same word historically, but here it has a different function.

хоть can mean different things depending on context, for example:

• Дай хоть воды. = At least give me some water.
• Хоть бы он пришёл. = If only he would come.
• Хоть я и устал, я читаю. = Although I’m tired, I read.

So in your sentence, do not translate хоть by itself. Learn the whole pattern хоть ... и ... as one concessive construction.

Because the sentence has two clauses:

• Хоть я и устал
• я всё равно читаю

The first clause is subordinate, and the second is the main clause. In Russian, subordinate clauses are normally separated by commas.

So:

• Хоть я и устал, я всё равно читаю.

That comma is required.

Всё равно means all the same, anyway, or still.

It is not always grammatically necessary, but it is very common because it strengthens the contrast:

• Хоть я и устал, я читаю. = Although I’m tired, I read.
• Хоть я и устал, я всё равно читаю. = Although I’m tired, I still read / I read anyway.

So всё равно makes the idea more explicit: being tired does not change the result.

Yes. Russian word order is flexible, and this construction can appear in different positions.

For example:

• Хоть я и устал, я всё равно читаю.
• Я всё равно читаю, хоть я и устал.
• Хоть и устал, я всё равно читаю.

All of these are possible.

The most common thing to remember is:

• the concessive clause can go before or after the main clause
• и stays inside the concessive clause

Because Russian often omits the subject when it is clear from context.

Compare:

• Хоть я и устал, я всё равно читаю.
• Хоть и устал, я всё равно читаю.

The second version still clearly refers to я, because the main clause has читаю, which is first person singular.

This is very natural in Russian when both clauses refer to the same subject.

It can be used with many kinds of predicates, not just verbs.

Examples:

• Хоть он и устал, он работает.
  verb-based idea

• Хоть она и молодая, она очень опытная.
  adjective-based idea

• Хоть он и врач, он этого не знает.
  noun-based idea

So the pattern is broader than just past-tense verbs like устал.

It usually comes before the most important part of the predicate or description.

Examples:

• Хоть я и устал...
• Хоть он и дома...
• Хоть она и умная...
• Хоть это и трудно...

A useful learner rule is:

• хоть starts the clause
• и appears later, often before the predicate or the highlighted word

You do not usually put и directly after хоть in a full clause like this:

• natural: Хоть я и устал
• not the usual full-clause pattern: Хоть и я устал

It is generally natural and acceptable in both speech and writing.

That said:

• хотя can feel a bit plainer and more neutral in many cases
• хоть ... и ... may sound slightly more expressive or emphatic

But this is not a big register difference. Learners can safely use хоть ... и ... in normal conversation and standard writing.

No. Each clause uses whatever tense or aspect the meaning requires.

Examples:

• Хоть я и устал, я читаю.
• Хоть я и устал вчера, сегодня я работаю.
• Хоть он и будет занят, он придёт.

The construction itself does not control tense. It only expresses the concessive relationship between the two clauses.

Но means but and usually connects two main clauses.

Example:

• Я устал, но всё равно читаю.

That is also correct and very common.

The difference is structural:

• Хоть я и устал, я всё равно читаю.
  The tiredness is presented as a subordinate concessive background.

• Я устал, но всё равно читаю.
  This is a more direct coordination: I’m tired, but I’m reading anyway.

Both are natural. The хоть ... и ... version sounds a bit more like although/even though.

A very useful template is:

• Хоть + subject + и + predicate, main clause

For example:

• Хоть я и устал, я работаю.
• Хоть она и занята, она поможет.
• Хоть мы и дома, мы не отдыхаем.
• Хоть это и сложно, я попробую.

You can also memorize a shorter version when the subject is obvious:

• Хоть и устал, всё равно читаю.

That will help the pattern start feeling natural.