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HSK 9conjunctions complex sentences

Concessive Qualification Formula in Chinese

话是这么说，不过… huà shì zhè me shuō ， bú guò …

话是这么说 acknowledges a previous statement before 不过, 可, or 可是 introduces a reservation. The first formula and the contrast marker occupy separate clause-level positions. Mandatory words within 话是这么说 cannot be rearranged or split, and the contrast marker must precede the qualifying proposition.

Published July 23, 2026

Reviewed July 23, 2026

01 / PATTERN

See the Structure

MODEL

话(说)是这么说, 不过/可/可是 + Qualification

Read the structure

话是这么说 acknowledges a previous statement before 不过, 可, or 可是 introduces a reservation. The first formula and the contrast marker occupy separate clause-level positions. Mandatory words within 话是这么说 cannot be rearranged or split, and the contrast marker must precede the qualifying proposition. Keep the model 话(说)是这么说, 不过/可/可是 + Qualification visible while you compare each sentence.

话是这么说，不过她还是不习惯。

That may be so, but she is still not used to it.

Choose the right context

Use 话是这么说 to concede the preceding point. Use 不过, 可, or 可是 before the reservation. State the qualification as a complete following proposition.

说是这么说，可对方未必同意。

That is one way to put it, but the other side may not agree.

Respect the boundary

Do not split the acknowledging formula with aspect. Do not reverse 话 and 是 inside the formula. Do not place the contrast marker after its qualifying proposition.

话是这么了说，不过她还是不习惯。

(That may be so, but she is still not used to it.)

Repair the pattern

Aspect marker splits the acknowledging formula: The acknowledging formula 话是这么说 is fixed and cannot contain aspect 了. Contrast marker trails the qualification: Contrast marker 可是 must introduce, not follow, its qualifying proposition.

话是这么说，不过她还是不习惯。

Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.

02 / MAP

Read the Sentence

Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.

话是这么说，不过她还是不习惯。

That may be so, but she is still not used to it.

话

话(说)是这么说, 不过/可/可是

This part occupies the 话(说)是这么说, 不过/可/可是 position in the model pattern.

是

Qualification

This part occupies the Qualification position in the model pattern.

这么

话(说)是这么说, 不过/可/可是

This part occupies the 话(说)是这么说, 不过/可/可是 position in the model pattern.

说

Qualification

This part occupies the Qualification position in the model pattern.

，

话(说)是这么说, 不过/可/可是

This part occupies the 话(说)是这么说, 不过/可/可是 position in the model pattern.

不过

Qualification

This part occupies the Qualification position in the model pattern.

她

话(说)是这么说, 不过/可/可是

This part occupies the 话(说)是这么说, 不过/可/可是 position in the model pattern.

还是

Qualification

This part occupies the Qualification position in the model pattern.

不

话(说)是这么说, 不过/可/可是

This part occupies the 话(说)是这么说, 不过/可/可是 position in the model pattern.

习惯

Qualification

This part occupies the Qualification position in the model pattern.

03 / EXAMPLES

Examples You Can Reuse

Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.

话是这么说，不过她还是不习惯。

huà shì zhè me shuō ， bú guò tā hái shì bù xí guàn 。

That may be so, but she is still not used to it.

说是这么说，可对方未必同意。

shuō shì zhè me shuō ， kě duì fāng wèi bì tóng yì 。

That is one way to put it, but the other side may not agree.

话是这么说，可是风险仍然存在。

huà shì zhè me shuō ， kě shì fēng xiǎn réng rán cún zài 。

That may be so, but the risk still exists.

04 / LIMITS

When to Use It — and When Not To

Use it when

  • Use 话是这么说 to concede the preceding point.
  • Use 不过, 可, or 可是 before the reservation.
  • State the qualification as a complete following proposition.

Do not use it when

  • Do not split the acknowledging formula with aspect.
  • Do not reverse 话 and 是 inside the formula.
  • Do not place the contrast marker after its qualifying proposition.

05 / REPAIR

Compare Right and Wrong

Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.

话是这么了说，不过她还是不习惯。

话是这么说，不过她还是不习惯。

Aspect marker splits the acknowledging formula

The acknowledging formula 话是这么说 is fixed and cannot contain aspect 了.

话是这么说，风险仍然存在可是。

话是这么说，可是风险仍然存在。

Contrast marker trails the qualification

Contrast marker 可是 must introduce, not follow, its qualifying proposition.

话是这么了说，不过她还是不习惯。

huà shì zhè me le shuō ， bú guò tā hái shì bù xí guàn 。

The acknowledging formula 话是这么说 is fixed and cannot contain aspect 了.

话是这么说，风险仍然存在可是。

huà shì zhè me shuō ， fēng xiǎn réng rán cún zài kě shì 。

Contrast marker 可是 must introduce, not follow, its qualifying proposition.

06 / PRACTICE

Practice the Grammar Point

Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.

1. Judge the sentence

Question 11/1
Which sentence uses 话是这么说，不过… correctly?

2. Choose the correction

Question 11/1
Choose the correction that fixes: 话是这么说，风险仍然存在可是。

3. Build the sentence

Build a complete sentence with 话是这么说，不过….

07 / APPLY

Apply It in Your Sentence

Write one original sentence with 话是这么说，不过…. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.

08 / QUESTIONS

Concessive Qualification Formula Questions

Does the first clause fully endorse the earlier claim?

No. It provisionally acknowledges it while preparing a reservation.

Which contrast markers are licensed?

GF records 不过, 可, and 可是 in this conversational format.

09 / SOURCES

Sources and Review Notes

These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.

Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)

Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021

Locator: GF0025-2021 Appendix A, official combined Levels 7-9 item 【七—九137】 (PDF p. 258)

Provides official combined Levels 7-9 directory placement and examples only; it does not establish the learner-facing usage explanation.

Official source

Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.

Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024

Locator: Chapter 25, §25.11, topic development; Chapter 41, §§41.1–41.3, contrast

Supports acknowledgement followed by a contrastive qualification; GF supplies the exact conversational formula and variants.

Official source

10 / CONTINUE

Continue with a Connected Rule

Compare

别提了Dismissive Formula 别提了

话是这么说，不过… acknowledges then qualifies a point; 别提了 instead stops discussion or heightens an emotional evaluation.

Compare

没说的Unqualified Approval with 没说的

Distinguish between 话是这么说不过's limited recognition and 没说的's full affirmation, and avoid describing the reserved position as having no objection.

Continue learning

虽然…但是虽然...但是 (Although... But)

Rewrite 话是这么说，不过… with 虽然…但是… to compare conversational and standard concession frames.

Continue learning

带关联词语的句群Linked Multi-Sentence Discourse

Use 话是这么说，不过… as a cross-sentence response marker within a larger linked sentence group.

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Rewrite 话是这么说，不过… with 虽然…但是… to compare conversational and standard concession frames.

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