Concessive Compound: 虽然…但是/可是, 不过

Chinese grammar · HSK 2 · 转折复句 · By Carson 木林森

虽然 (suīrán) introduces a fact; 但是/可是/不过 (dànshì/kěshì/búguò) introduce the contrasting result. Structure: 虽然 + Clause A，但是/可是/不过 + Clause B.

虽然 suī rán although; even though (often used correlati… 但是 dàn shì but; however 可是 kě shì but; however 不过 bù guò only

但是 and 可是 both mean 'but'; 但是 is a little more common in writing, 可是 more common in speech.
不过 is softer and more casual.
虽然 can sometimes be dropped, but the second connector (但是/可是/不过) is required.

❌ 虽然天气冷，我们出去了。(missing second connector — incomplete)
✅ 虽然天气冷，但是我们出去了。

Worked examples

Chinese	Pinyin	English	What it shows
虽然天气很冷，但是我很高兴。	Suī rán tiān qì hěn lěng, dàn shì wǒ hěn gāo xìng.	Although the weather is very cold, I am very happy.	Minimal frame: 虽然 + adjective clause, 但是 + result clause.
虽然这个工作很忙，可是他觉得很有意思。	Suī rán zhè ge gōng zuò hěn máng, kě shì tā jué de hěn yǒu yì si.	Although this job is very busy, he thinks it's very interesting.	可是 as an alternative to 但是; adds the opinion verb 觉得.
虽然她很累，不过她还是每天去公司上班。	Suī rán tā hěn lèi, bú guò tā hái shi měi tiān qù gōng sī shàng bān.	Although she is tired, she still goes to work at the company every day.	不过 as a softer connector; adds 还是 (still) to reinforce the contrast.

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Conjunctions

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These patterns list Concessive Compound among their own prerequisites, so they become readable once this one holds.

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