HSK 2
虽然...但是 (Although... But) in Chinese
虽然...但是... expresses concession: 虽然很累，但是我很开心 (although I'm tired, I'm happy). Chinese uses both words together, which feels wrong to English speakers taught that "although" and "but" don't co-occur. 虽然 marks the fact you concede; 但是 (or 可是) marks the contrast.
STRUCTURE
虽然 + Fact, (但是) + Contrast
When to use 虽然…但是 — and when not
Use it when
- Conceding a fact then contrasting it: 虽然下雨，但是我们还是去了。
- 但是 / 可是 for the contrast clause: 虽然贵，可是很好吃。
- Dropping 虽然, keeping 但是: 我很累，但是很开心。
Don't use it when
- Thinking you can't use both — Chinese pairs 虽然 with 但是, unlike English.
- Putting 但是 in the first clause — 但是 opens the contrast, which is the second clause.
- Using 但是 to mean "because" or "so" — it only marks contrast.
Right vs. wrong
虽然但是很累，我很开心。
虽然很累，但是我很开心。
但是 placed in the 虽然 clause
虽然 opens the conceded fact and 但是 opens the contrast — the second clause. 但是 can't sit inside the first clause with 虽然.
虽然很累，所以我很开心。
虽然很累，但是我很开心。
Using 所以 instead of 但是 for the contrast
虽然 sets up a contrast, so the second clause takes 但是, not 所以. 所以 gives a result (cause–effect), which doesn't fit a concession.
Examples
虽然很累，但是我很开心。
Suīrán hěn lèi, dànshì wǒ hěn kāixīn.
Although I'm tired, I'm happy.
虽然下雨，但是我们还是去了。
Suīrán xià yǔ, dànshì wǒmen háishì qù le.
Although it rained, we still went.
虽然贵，可是很好吃。
Suīrán guì, kěshì hěn hǎochī.
Although it's expensive, it's tasty.
我很累，但是很开心。
Wǒ hěn lèi, dànshì hěn kāixīn.
I'm tired, but happy.
虽然他很忙，但是他每天运动。
Suīrán tā hěn máng, dànshì tā měitiān yùndòng.
Although he's busy, he exercises every day.
Common mistakes
虽然但是很累，我很开心。
Suīrán dànshì hěn lèi, wǒ hěn kāixīn.
但是 opens the second clause: 虽然很累，但是我很开心。
虽然很累，所以我很开心。
Suīrán hěn lèi, suǒyǐ wǒ hěn kāixīn.
Concession takes 但是, not 所以: 虽然很累，但是我很开心。
因为很累，但是我很开心。
Yīnwèi hěn lèi, dànshì wǒ hěn kāixīn.
With 但是 use 虽然, not 因为: 虽然很累，但是我很开心。
Think you've got it?
Write your own 虽然…但是 sentence and check that grammar point first.
虽然...但是 (Although... But) FAQ
Can I use 虽然 and 但是 together?
Yes — Chinese uses both: 虽然累，但是开心. English drops one of "although / but", but Chinese keeps both. You may also drop 虽然 and keep 但是.
Can I use 可是 instead of 但是?
Yes. 可是 and 但是 both mark contrast and are interchangeable here: 虽然贵，可是好吃. 但是 is a touch more formal.
Which clause comes first?
The conceded fact with 虽然 comes first, then the contrast with 但是: 虽然..., 但是.... Don't put 但是 in the first clause.