虽...但...: Concise Although in Chinese
虽…但/可/却/也…
虽...但... is a compact, often written alternative to 虽然...但是.... The first clause concedes a fact and the second gives the contrasting main point, with 但, 可, 却, or sometimes 也 marking that turn. Because 虽 is concise and relatively formal, it is less common than 虽然 in casual speech.
Published July 21, 2026
Reviewed July 21, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
虽 + Fact, 但 / 可 / 却 / 也 + Point
Read the structure
虽...但... is a compact, often written alternative to 虽然...但是.... The first clause concedes a fact and the second gives the contrasting main point, with 但, 可, 却, or sometimes 也 marking that turn. Because 虽 is concise and relatively formal, it is less common than 虽然 in casual speech. Keep the model 虽 + Fact, 但 / 可 / 却 / 也 + Point visible while you compare each sentence.
他年纪虽小，但经验不少。
Although he is young, he has considerable experience.
Choose the right context
Make a concise written concession: 他年纪虽小，但经验不少。 Acknowledge one fact before asserting a contrasting point. Use 可, 却, or 也 when its nuance fits the second clause.
路虽远，我们却没有放弃。
Although the road was long, we did not give up.
Respect the boundary
Do not stack 虽 and 虽然 in the same concessive marker. Do not leave the clause after 虽 or the contrast marker incomplete. Use 虽然...但是... when a fuller conversational form is clearer for beginners.
他虽虽然年轻，但很有经验。
(He although-although young, but experienced.)
Repair the pattern
Two forms of the same concession marker are stacked: Choose either 虽 or 虽然; they cannot be combined as 虽虽然. The conceded clause is missing: 虽 must introduce the fact being conceded before the main contrast.
他虽年轻，但很有经验。
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.
他年纪虽小，但经验不少。
Although he is young, he has considerable experience.
他
虽
This part occupies the 虽 position in the model pattern.
年纪
Fact, 但 / 可 / 却 / 也
This part occupies the Fact, 但 / 可 / 却 / 也 position in the model pattern.
虽
Point
This part occupies the Point position in the model pattern.
小
虽
This part occupies the 虽 position in the model pattern.
，
Fact, 但 / 可 / 却 / 也
This part occupies the Fact, 但 / 可 / 却 / 也 position in the model pattern.
但
Point
This part occupies the Point position in the model pattern.
经验
虽
This part occupies the 虽 position in the model pattern.
不少
Fact, 但 / 可 / 却 / 也
This part occupies the Fact, 但 / 可 / 却 / 也 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.
他年纪虽小，但经验不少。
Although he is young, he has considerable experience.
路虽远，我们却没有放弃。
Although the road was long, we did not give up.
这个办法虽简单，也很有效。
Although this method is simple, it is effective.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Make a concise written concession: 他年纪虽小，但经验不少。
- Acknowledge one fact before asserting a contrasting point.
- Use 可, 却, or 也 when its nuance fits the second clause.
Do not use it when
- Do not stack 虽 and 虽然 in the same concessive marker.
- Do not leave the clause after 虽 or the contrast marker incomplete.
- Use 虽然...但是... when a fuller conversational form is clearer for beginners.
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.
他虽虽然年轻，但很有经验。
他虽年轻，但很有经验。
Two forms of the same concession marker are stacked
Choose either 虽 or 虽然; they cannot be combined as 虽虽然.
他虽，但按时完成了。
他虽很忙，但按时完成了。
The conceded clause is missing
虽 must introduce the fact being conceded before the main contrast.
他虽虽然年轻，但很有经验。
Use either 虽 or 虽然, not both.
他虽，但按时完成了。
Add the conceded fact after 虽.
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
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 虽…但/可/却/也….
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 虽…但/可/却/也…. 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
虽...但...: Concise Although Questions
How is 虽 different from 虽然?
They express the same basic concession, but 虽 is more compact and often more formal or literary.
Which words can introduce the second clause?
Common choices include 但, 可, 却, and 也. Their tone and discourse function differ slightly.
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.
Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Construction index and function chapters relevant to 虽…但/可/却/也…
Supports the learner-facing account of where 虽…但/可/却/也… appears and what communicative job it performs.
Official sourceChinese: A Comprehensive Grammar, 2nd ed.
Yip and Rimmington · Routledge · 2016
Locator: Relevant sentence and clause chapters for 虽…但/可/却/也…
Cross-checks the 虽 + Fact, 但 / 可 / 却 / 也 + Point pattern, clause relationship, and limits represented by the reviewed examples.
Official sourceChinese 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: Appendix A, Level 6 grammar inventory
Supports directory placement at HSK 6; it does not independently prove usage rules.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Easy to confuse
虽然…但是虽然...但是 (Although... But)
Compare concise formal concession with the full common pattern.
Easy to confuse
尽管…但是/可是…尽管...但是...(jǐnguǎn...dànshì)
Distinguish compact concession from acknowledging an actual obstacle.
Compare
固然…但是固然...但是: Granted, Yet
Compare simple concession with deliberate acknowledgment before qualification.
Compare
这/那也不X，那/这也不Y这也不X，那也不Y
Separate concessive framing from a colloquial rejection of multiple alternatives.
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Easy to confuse
Compare concise formal concession with the full common pattern.