Compound sentences in Chinese (复句): from 因为…所以 to 多重复句
A compound sentence in Chinese, a 复句 (fùjù), is two or more clauses joined by a pair of connectors that names the relation between them: cause, condition, concession, sequence or choice. The best known is 不但…而且 (bùdàn … érqiě, not only … but also): 他不但会说中文，而且说得很好. When one half of a compound sentence is itself a compound sentence, it is a 多重复句 (duōchóng fùjù), a multi-layer compound sentence.
| Connector | Pinyin | Relation | HSK | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 虽然…但是 / 可是 | suīrán … dànshì / kěshì | concession: although … (still) | 2 | 虽然中文很难，但是很有意思。 Suīrán Zhōngwén hěn nán, dànshì hěn yǒu yìsi. Although Chinese is hard, it is very interesting. |
| 虽然…但是 | suīrán … dànshì | concession, with the subject before 虽然 | 4 | 他虽然很忙，但是每天都学习中文。 Tā suīrán hěn máng, dànshì měi tiān dōu xuéxí Zhōngwén. Although he is busy, he studies Chinese every day. |
| 因为…所以 | yīnwèi … suǒyǐ | cause and effect: because … so | 2 | 因为今天下雨，所以我没去跑步。 Yīnwèi jīntiān xià yǔ, suǒyǐ wǒ méi qù pǎobù. Because it rained today, I did not go running. |
| 如果…就 | rúguǒ … jiù | condition: if … then | 2 | 如果明天不下雨，我们就去爬山。 Rúguǒ míngtiān bú xià yǔ, wǒmen jiù qù pá shān. If it does not rain tomorrow, we will go hiking. |
| 要是…就 | yàoshi … jiù | condition, spoken: if … then | 3 | 要是你累了，就早点儿睡吧。 Yàoshi nǐ lèi le, jiù zǎo diǎnr shuì ba. If you are tired, go to bed a bit earlier. |
| 只要…就 | zhǐyào … jiù | sufficient condition: as long as … then | 2 | 只要每天练习，你就能说好中文。 Zhǐyào měi tiān liànxí, nǐ jiù néng shuō hǎo Zhōngwén. As long as you practise every day, you will speak Chinese well. |
| 只有…才 | zhǐyǒu … cái | necessary condition: only if … (then) | 3 | 只有多听多说，才能学好中文。 Zhǐyǒu duō tīng duō shuō, cái néng xué hǎo Zhōngwén. Only by listening and speaking a lot can you learn Chinese well. |
| 不但…而且 | bùdàn … érqiě | progression: not only … but also | 2 | 他不但会说中文，而且说得很好。 Tā búdàn huì shuō Zhōngwén, érqiě shuō de hěn hǎo. He not only speaks Chinese, he speaks it very well. |
| 不但…而且 | bùdàn … érqiě | progression with two different subjects | 4 | 不但我喜欢这部电影，而且我的朋友也喜欢。 Búdàn wǒ xǐhuan zhè bù diànyǐng, érqiě wǒ de péngyou yě xǐhuan. Not only do I like this film, my friend likes it too. |
| 不仅…还 | bùjǐn … hái | addition: not only … also | 3 | 她不仅会唱歌，还会跳舞。 Tā bùjǐn huì chàng gē, hái huì tiào wǔ. She can not only sing, she can also dance. |
| 不但不…反而 | bùdàn bù … fǎn'ér | reversal: not only not … but on the contrary | 6 | 雨不但没停，反而越下越大了。 Yǔ búdàn méi tíng, fǎn'ér yuè xià yuè dà le. Far from stopping, the rain got heavier and heavier. |
| 先…然后 / 再 | xiān … ránhòu / zài | sequence: first … then | 2 | 我们先吃饭，然后去看电影。 Wǒmen xiān chī fàn, ránhòu qù kàn diànyǐng. We will eat first, then go and see a film. |
| 一…就 | yī … jiù | tight sequence: as soon as … (then) | 2 | 他一回家就睡觉了。 Tā yì huí jiā jiù shuìjiào le. He went to sleep as soon as he got home. |
| 或者 | huòzhě | choice in a statement: or | 2 | 你可以今天来，或者明天来。 Nǐ kěyǐ jīntiān lái, huòzhě míngtiān lái. You can come today, or tomorrow. |
| 还是 | háishi | choice in a question: or | 1 | 你喝茶还是喝咖啡？ Nǐ hē chá háishi hē kāfēi? Will you have tea or coffee? |
| 要么…要么 | yàome … yàome | either … or (only these two) | 6 | 要么坐地铁，要么打车，别开车了。 Yàome zuò dìtiě, yàome dǎ chē, bié kāi chē le. Either take the subway or a taxi, but do not drive. |
| 为了 | wèile | purpose: in order to | 3 | 为了学好中文，他每天看中文电视。 Wèile xué hǎo Zhōngwén, tā měi tiān kàn Zhōngwén diànshì. To learn Chinese well, he watches Chinese TV every day. |
| 以便 | yǐbiàn | purpose, formal: so that | 5 | 请留下你的电话号码，以便我们联系你。 Qǐng liúxià nǐ de diànhuà hàomǎ, yǐbiàn wǒmen liánxì nǐ. Please leave your phone number so that we can contact you. |
| 即使…也 | jíshǐ … yě | hypothetical concession: even if … still | 5 | 即使明天下雨，我也要去。 Jíshǐ míngtiān xià yǔ, wǒ yě yào qù. Even if it rains tomorrow, I am still going. |
| 虽然…但是 + 因为…所以 | suīrán … dànshì + yīnwèi … suǒyǐ | two layers: a cause inside a concession | 5 | 虽然这次考试很难，但是因为他准备得很好，所以考得不错。 Suīrán zhè cì kǎoshì hěn nán, dànshì yīnwèi tā zhǔnbèi de hěn hǎo, suǒyǐ kǎo de búcuò. Although the exam was hard, he did well because he had prepared well. |
| 虽然…但是 + 只要…就 | suīrán … dànshì + zhǐyào … jiù | multi-layer (多重复句): a condition inside a concession | 6 | 虽然他很忙，但是只要有时间，他就会来看我们。 Suīrán tā hěn máng, dànshì zhǐyào yǒu shíjiān, tā jiù huì lái kàn wǒmen. Although he is busy, whenever he has time he comes to see us. |
The HSK column is the level of the grammar point each row links to. The pinyin column gives the dictionary form; the examples show the tone changes of 不 and 一 as they are spoken (búdàn, yì huí).
Where the second connector goes
The connectors split into two kinds. Conjunctions such as 但是, 所以, 而且 and 然后 open their clause, before the subject: 因为下雨，所以我没去. Adverbs such as 就, 才, 也 and 还 go after the subject of their clause and before the verb: 如果你去，我也去 (Rúguǒ nǐ qù, wǒ yě qù, if you go, I will go too), never 也我去.
The first connector is more flexible. 虽然, 因为, 如果 and 不但 can go before or after the subject: 虽然他很忙 and 他虽然很忙 are both correct. When both clauses share a subject, putting it first is the usual choice; when the subjects differ, put the connector first so it covers the whole clause.
多重复句: multi-layer compound sentences
A 多重复句 stacks one relation inside another. Read it from the outside in: find the outer pair first, then look inside each half.
虽然他很忙，但是只要有时间，他就会来看我们。
Suīrán tā hěn máng, dànshì zhǐyào yǒu shíjiān, tā jiù huì lái kàn wǒmen.
Although he is busy, whenever he has time he comes to see us.
- Layer one, concession (虽然…但是): 虽然他很忙 | 但是只要有时间，他就会来看我们.
- Layer two, condition (只要…就), inside the 但是 half: 只要有时间 | 他就会来看我们.
A sentence with exactly two layers is called a 二重复句, taught at HSK 5 on multi-clause compound sentences; HSK 6 covers stacked relations in general on multi-layer compound sentences.
Frequently asked questions
What is 多重复句 in English?
多重复句 (duōchóng fùjù) is a multi-layer compound sentence: a compound sentence where one half is itself a compound sentence, so two or more pairs of connectors are nested. In 虽然他很忙，但是只要有时间，他就会来看我们, the outer layer is 虽然…但是 (concession) and the inner layer, inside the 但是 half, is 只要…就 (condition).
Can you drop 虽然 or 但是?
Yes, either one. 这个很贵，但是很好用 drops 虽然, and 虽然很贵，我还是买了 drops 但是 and keeps 还是. Using both together is normal in Chinese, even though "although … but" is wrong in English.
What is the difference between 只要…就 and 只有…才?
只要…就 is a sufficient condition: this one thing is enough. 只要每天练习，就能进步 means "as long as you practise every day, you will improve". 只有…才 is a necessary condition: nothing else will do. 只有每天练习，才能进步 means "only if you practise every day can you improve". 就 pairs with 只要 and 才 pairs with 只有; do not swap them.
Where does the subject go with 不但…而且?
If both clauses share one subject, put it before 不但: 他不但会唱歌，而且会跳舞. If the subjects are different, put 不但 before the first subject: 不但他会唱歌，而且他妹妹也会. 而且 always opens the second clause.
What is the difference between 或者 and 还是?
Both mean "or". 还是 is for questions: 你喝茶还是喝咖啡？ 或者 is for statements: 你可以喝茶或者喝咖啡. In 我不知道他去还是不去, 还是 is used because the clause is an embedded question.
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