Mandarin · Chapter 22 · Lesson 15 · Grammar primer
Concession: 虽然, 不过, 还是
Conceding a point and pushing past it: 虽然...还是/但是 (although...still), 不过 (nonetheless), and standalone 还是 (even so). The paired connectives, why the second clause carries the real message, and the register difference between 但是 and the lighter 不过.
The short version
虽然 (suī rán) opens a bracket you have to close
English is happy with a lone 'although'. Mandarin marks both ends, so the moment you write 虽然 (suī rán), plant a 还是 (hái shì) or a 但是 (dàn shì) in the next clause. A bare 虽然 (suī rán) is the signature learner error. 还是 (hái shì) sits after the subject and before the verb; 但是 (dàn shì) heads the whole clause.
虽然下雨，我还是去 suī rán xià yǔ, wǒ hái shì qù
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