虽然……，但是…… — although

Expensive but good

• You bought a pair of shoes that cost a lot. You still think they were worth it.
• although虽然suīrán这双鞋zhè shuāng xiévery很hěnexpensive贵guì，but但是dànshìvery很hěngood-looking好看hǎo kàn。 — "Although these shoes are expensive, they look great."

although虽然suīrán……，but但是dànshì……

• although虽然suīrán introduces a fact you accept; but但是dànshì gives the contrasting point: although虽然suīránvery很hěntired累lèi，but但是dànshìvery很hěnhappy高兴gāoxìng, tired but happy.
• Chinese uses both words together. English uses only “although” or only “but”.

although虽然suīránvery很hěntired累lèi，but但是dànshìvery很hěnhappy高兴gāoxìng。

Where although虽然suīrán goes

• although虽然suīrán can come before or after the subject: although虽然suīránhe他tāvery很hěnbusy忙máng，but但是dànshìhe他tāevery day每天měitiānstudy学习xuéxí。 or he他tāalthough虽然suīránvery很hěnbusy忙máng，but但是dànshìevery day每天měitiānstudy学习xuéxí。 — "Although he is busy, he studies every day."
• but但是dànshì always starts the second clause. but可是kě shì is a common spoken alternative.

he他tāalthough虽然suīránvery很hěnbusy忙máng，but但是dànshìevery day每天měitiānstudy学习xuéxí。

Choosing the two parts

• The second part should be surprising given the first: although虽然suīránto rain下雨xià yǔ(completed / change)了le，but但是dànshìwe / us我们wǒ menstill / also还háito go去qùpark (for public recreation)公园gōng yuán, it rained, but we still went to the park.
• still / also还hái or also也yě often appears after the subject in the second part to stress “still”.

Watch out

Recap