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Level Upper-Intermediate Chinese · HSK 4

Contrast at B2: 尽管, 却, 不是…而是, 既…又 and 相反

虽然…但是 is the B1 way to say 'although'. B2 adds 尽管, a slightly more formal 'even though'; 却, an adverb that marks the surprising half; 不是…而是 for correcting a wrong idea; and 相反 for saying the opposite is true.

The trap for English speakers is word order: 却 is an adverb, not a conjunction, so it goes after the subject like 也 and 都.

尽管 and 却

尽管 (jǐnguǎn) means 'even though, despite the fact that' and, like 虽然, introduces something true. It pairs with 但是, 可是 or 却 in the second clause. It sounds a little more formal and emphatic than 虽然.

却 (què) means 'but, yet'. It is an adverb: subject + 却 + verb. 我想去，他却不想去 (I want to go, but he doesn't). It can team up with 但是: 但是他却… . Quick test: if 也 fits in the spot, 却 fits too.

  • 尽管工作很忙，她每天还是抽时间陪孩子。

    Jǐnguǎn gōngzuò hěn máng, tā měi tiān háishi chōu shíjiān péi háizi.

    Even though work is busy, she still finds time for her children every day.

  • 他很累，却不肯休息。

    Tā hěn lèi, què bù kěn xiūxi.

    He's exhausted, yet he won't rest.

  • 大家都来了，他却没来。

    Dàjiā dōu lái le, tā què méi lái.

    Everyone came, but he didn't.

不是…而是 and 既…又

不是 A，而是 B (bú shì A, ér shì B) corrects an assumption: 'it's not A, it's B'. A and B are the same kind of thing: two nouns, two verb phrases or two reasons. It's a polite way to explain yourself: 我不是不帮你，而是真的帮不上 (it's not that I won't help; I really can't).

既…又 (jì … yòu) and 既…也 (jì … yě) mean 'both … and': two qualities that are both true. They sound more balanced and a little more formal than 又…又. Don't confuse 既 with 既然 (since).

  • 他不是不想结婚，而是还没找到合适的人。

    Tā bú shì bù xiǎng jié hūn, ér shì hái méi zhǎodào héshì de rén.

    It's not that he doesn't want to get married; he just hasn't found the right person yet.

  • 她既聪明又能干。

    Tā jì cōngming yòu nénggàn.

    She's both clever and capable.

  • 这样做既能省钱，也能省时间。

    Zhèyàng zuò jì néng shěng qián, yě néng shěng shíjiān.

    Doing it this way saves both money and time.

相反: on the contrary

相反 (xiāngfǎn) means 'the opposite'. As a sentence opener, 相反 or 恰恰相反 (qiàqià xiāngfǎn) says the truth is the reverse of what was just suggested: 他没有生气，相反，他很高兴 (he wasn't angry; on the contrary, he was pleased). It can also be a predicate: 我们的看法正好相反 (our views are exactly opposite).

相反 always follows a negative or contrasting statement; it doesn't simply mean 'but'.

  • 失败并不可怕，相反，它能让人变得更强。

    Shībài bìng bù kěpà, xiāngfǎn, tā néng ràng rén biàn de gèng qiáng.

    Failure isn't frightening at all; on the contrary, it can make you stronger.

  • 我们俩的意见正好相反。

    Wǒmen liǎ de yìjiàn zhènghǎo xiāngfǎn.

    Our opinions are exactly opposite.

Common mistakes

  • ✗我想去，却他不想去。

    ✓我想去，他却不想去。

    Wǒ xiǎng qù, tā què bù xiǎng qù.

    却 is an adverb, so it goes after the subject. Put it where 也 would go.

  • ✗他不是没时间，但是不想去。

    ✓他不是没时间，而是不想去。

    Tā bú shì méi shíjiān, ér shì bù xiǎng qù.

    不是 A pairs with 而是 B to correct a wrong idea. 但是 adds a contrast; it doesn't replace A with B.

  • ✗她既然聪明又漂亮。

    ✓她既聪明又漂亮。

    Tā jì cōngming yòu piàoliang.

    'Both … and' is 既…又. 既然 means 'since' and starts a reason.

Questions learners ask

Can 尽管 mean something other than 'although'?

Yes. As an adverb before a verb, 尽管 means 'feel free to': 有问题尽管问 (if you have questions, just ask). Context makes it clear.

Where does 然而 fit?

然而 is the written 'however', at the start of a sentence. It is covered with 而 in the C1 guide on contrast.

Practice this in lessons

The Upper-Intermediate Chinese lessons teach this step by step, with exercises and review built in.

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