Sentence pattern · Band 2
虽然……但是……: although, but
虽然 A，但是 B
虽然 opens the surprise, 但是 swings the but: small but mighty, tired but happy. Mandarin likes both words showing up, the way 因为 and 所以 hold hands on their own page. Standalone 但是 works in quick speech, but the full pair makes the seesaw obvious: the first half lifts up, the second half tips over.
Hear it in a sentence
Mistakes people make
虽然 pairs with 但是 for surprise; 因为 and 所以 belong to cause and effect.
The surprise comes first and the 但是 turn second; the pair never swaps seats.
Words in this pattern
Quick answers
What does 虽然……但是…… mean?
虽然 opens the surprise, 但是 swings the but: small but mighty, tired but happy. Mandarin likes both words showing up, the way 因为 and 所以 hold hands on their own page. Standalone 但是 works in quick speech, but the full pair makes the seesaw obvious: the first half lifts up, the second half tips over.
How do you build it?
虽然 A，但是 B
What is the most common mistake?
虽然很贵，所以我买了。 → 虽然很贵，但是我买了。
虽然 pairs with 但是 for surprise; 因为 and 所以 belong to cause and effect.
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