Adj + 是 + Adj，但是 … (concede, then object) · Adj + 是 + Adj, mais … (concéder, puis opposer)
Conceding a quality does not settle a decision
- An item is good, but the price is unacceptable.
- 好是好，但是太贵。 — The speaker accepts the quality before raising the price objection.
Conceding a quality does not settle a decision
- An item is good, but the price is unacceptable.
- good好to be / is是good好，but但是太贵。 — The speaker accepts the quality before raising the price objection.
An item is good, but the price is unacceptable. What does 好是好，但是太贵。 communicate?
The speaker accepts the quality before raising the price objection. The concession is not a retraction of the quality. The final decision depends on the objection and context.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is Adj + 是 + Adj，但是 … (concede, then object). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
good好(indeed)是good好，but但是too太expensive贵。
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is Adj + to be / is是 + Adj，but但是 … (concede, then object). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
good好(indeed)是good好，but但是too太expensive贵。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: It's good all right, but too expensive: 好 ____ 好，但是太贵。
Adj + 是 + Adj，但是 … = X, sure, but …: 好是好,但是太贵. · Adj + 是 + Adj, mais … = X, oui, mais … : C'est bien, mais c'est trop cher.
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, 好是好，但是太贵。: The speaker accepts the quality before raising the price objection.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, good好to be / is是good好，but但是太贵。: The speaker accepts the quality before raising the price objection.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
What does 好是好 do before 但是? · Que fait 好是好 avant 但是 ?
It admits the merit, then 但是 raises the catch. · Il admet le mérite, puis 但是 soulève le bémol.
Know the boundary
- The concession is not a retraction of the quality.
- The final decision depends on the objection and context.
The adjective is repeated around 是 (好是好). · L'adjectif est répété autour de 是 (好是好).
Yes — Adj + 是 + (same) Adj: 好是好, 贵是贵. · Oui — Adj + 是 + (même) Adj : C'est bien, c'est cher.
In the opening situation: The speaker accepts the quality before raising the price objection.
The concession is not a retraction of the quality. The final decision depends on the objection and context. The speaker accepts the quality before raising the price objection.
Use the distinction
- The speaker accepts the quality before raising the price objection.
- The concession is not a retraction of the quality. The final decision depends on the objection and context.
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Complex sentence patterns.