Ch 22 · Lesson 17Mandarin · Chapter 22 · Lesson 17 · Grammar primer
不过 and 还是…吧: though, and had better
is a softer but: ，. + verb + is had better: . And how to tell the three apart.
The short version
，。Zhè jiā diàn búcuò, búguò yǒudiǎn guì.
Why?Hide
(búguò) means 'but' with the edge taken off: 'though', 'mind you'. It opens the second clause, or a new sentence, with no (suīrán) before it. In most sentences it can swap with (dànshì); it just sounds lighter and more conversational.
。Wǒmen háishi zuò dìtiě ba.
Why?Hide
In a suggestion, (háishi) before the verb means 'had better', usually with (ba) at the end: (nǐ háishi zǎodiǎn qù ba), you'd better go a bit early. After a concession the same (háishi) means 'still', and between two choices in a question it means 'or'.
不过 (búguò): the softer "but"
(búguò) is "but" with the edge taken off: "though", "mind you". It opens the second clause, or a new sentence:
- 但是 dànshì: but
- 不过 búguò: though, mind you
- 只是 zhǐshì: it’s just that
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
，。 | Zhè jiā diàn búcuò, dànshì hěn guì. | This shop's good, but it's expensive |
，。 | Zhè jiā diàn búcuò, búguò yǒudiǎn guì. | This shop's good, though a bit pricey |
。，。 | Wǒ xiǎng qù. Búguò, wǒ méi shíjiān. | I'd like to go. Mind you, I've no time |
In most sentences (dànshì) and (búguò) can swap; just sounds lighter. After (suīrán), and (kěshì) are the usual partners. is on the AQA GCSE Chinese specification at Higher tier.
Before a number, (búguò) means "only": 。 (Tā búguò èrshí suì.), he's only twenty.
还是 (háishi): had better
In a suggestion, (háishi) means "had better", "it would be best to". It goes before the verb, usually with (ba) at the end:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
。 | Nǐ háishi zǎodiǎn qù ba. | You'd better go a bit early |
。 | Wǒmen háishi zuò dìtiě ba. | We'd better take the underground |
，。 | Tài wǎn le, nǐ háishi bié qù le. | It's too late; you'd better not go |
It says you have weighed the options and picked the wiser one: the taxi is quicker, but we'd better take the underground.
Which 还是 (háishi)?
The same two characters do three jobs. What surrounds them decides:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
，。 | Suīrán xià yǔ, wǒ háishi qù. | still: a fact goes before it |
。 | Wǒmen háishi qù ba. | had better: a suggestion, with |
？ | Nǐ qù háishi wǒ qù? | or: two choices, and a question |
The "or" of questions is on question words.
Mistakes English speakers make
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
，。 | ，。 | (suīrán) needs a partner |
，。 | ，。 | for "because": concedes, (yīnwèi) gives a reason |
？ | ？ | to ask which: a choice question takes (háishi) |
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