Kilo Lingo
Mandarin grammar Part of Chapter 22

CEFR A2-B1

4 min read

Test yourself (16 questions)

Although in Mandarin: 虽然…还是, 不过 and 还是

By Michael McGettrick and Wee Khang LinUpdated 12 October 2026

(suīrán) means "although", but Mandarin marks both halves: in the first clause, then (dànshì), (kěshì) or (háishi) in the second. (búguò) is a softer "but". And has a second job, "had better", besides the "or" of questions.

The whole system on one screen

The colours stay the same all page long:

虽然 suīrán (although)the turn (but or still)还是 háishi (had better)What do the colours mean?
HanziPinyinEnglish
，。Suīrán xià yǔ, wǒ háishi qù.Although it's raining, I'm still going
，。Suīrán tā hěn lèi, dànshì tā bù xiǎng shuì.He's tired, but he doesn't want to sleep
，。Zhè jiā diàn búcuò, búguò yǒudiǎn guì.This shop's good, though a bit pricey
，。Tài wǎn le, wǒmen háishi huíjiā ba.It's late, we'd better go home

Concede, then turn: (suīrán) opens, the partner turns. (búguò) is a "but" that needs no in front.

虽然 (suīrán) needs a partner

虽然 suīrán (although)the turn (but or still)What do the colours mean?

English uses "although" or "but", never both. Mandarin uses both: (suīrán) in the first clause and a partner in the second:

HanziPinyinEnglish
，。Suīrán tā hěn lèi, dànshì tā hái zài gōngzuò.Although he's tired, he's still working
，。Suīrán Zhōngwén hěn nán, kěshì wǒ hěn xǐhuan.Chinese is hard, but I love it
，。Suīrán hěn guì, wǒ háishi mǎi le.It was dear, but I bought it anyway

(dànshì) and (kěshì) open the second clause, before its subject; is a little more spoken. (háishi) goes after the subject, before the verb. can also follow the subject: ，。 (Tā suīrán hěn lèi, dànshì tā hái zài gōngzuò.)

With no partner, ， (suīrán hěn guì, wǒ mǎi le) sounds unfinished. The one exception is an afterthought, where the clause comes second: ，。 (Wǒ háishi qù le, suīrán zài xià yǔ.), I went anyway, although it was raining.

还是 (háishi): still, anyway

虽然 suīrán (although)the turn (but or still)What do the colours mean?

In the second clause, (háishi) says it happened despite the first: "still", "anyway". It goes after the subject, before the verb, and the first clause does not even need (suīrán):

HanziPinyinEnglish
，。Suīrán xià yǔ, wǒ háishi qù.Although it's raining, I'm still going
，。Dàjiā dōu fǎnduì, tā háishi zuò le.Everyone was against it; she did it anyway
，。Wǒ shuō le hěn duō cì, tā háishi bù tīng.I've told him many times; he still won't listen

(dànshì) and (háishi) sit in different places, so they stack: ，。 (Suīrán xià yǔ, dànshì wǒ háishi qù.) English cannot say "but... still" twice; Mandarin happily does.

不过 (búguò): the softer "but"

the turn (but or still)What do the colours mean?

(búguò) is "but" with the edge taken off: "though", "mind you". It opens the second clause, or a new sentence:

Plain contrastGentle reservation
  1. 但是 dànshì: but
  2. 不过 búguò: though, mind you
  3. 只是 zhǐshì: it’s just that
HanziPinyinEnglish
，。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

还是 háishi (had better)What do the colours mean?

In a suggestion, (háishi) means "had better", "it would be best to". It goes before the verb, usually with (ba) at the end:

HanziPinyinEnglish
。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)?

虽然 suīrán (although)the turn (but or still)还是 háishi (had better)What do the colours mean?

The same two characters do three jobs. What surrounds them decides:

HanziPinyinMeaning
，。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

WrongRightWhy
，。，。 (suīrán) needs a partner
，。，。for "because": concedes, (yīnwèi) gives a reason
？？to ask which: a choice question takes (háishi)

What to do next

  1. Do the drill below.
  2. Write two sentences about your week: one with … (suīrán… háishi), one with (búguò).
  3. Then read conjunctions for the other pairs, such as … (yīnwèi… suǒyǐ).

Practise: test yourself

Sort into groups

0/6

What does 还是 mean in each sentence?

Tap a word, then the group it belongs in.

Complete the story

0/4

Choose the word for each gap.

My favourite shop

这家店很好，有点贵。很贵，我常常去。今天太晚了，我们回家吧。

Gap 1 of 4

Spot the mistake

0/2

Each sentence has one mistake. Tap it.

  1. suī rán xià yǔ ， suǒ yǐ wǒ hái shì qù 。

  2. suī rán tā hěn lèi ， tā dàn shì hái zài gōng zuò 。

Matching

0/4

Match each sentence to its English.

Chapters 1 and 2 free

This article is one lesson in a whole course

Every grammar point has its own article and drill, and the course wraps them in graded stories, games and printable worksheets, in the order you need them.

Chapters 1 and 2 free, forever. Plus: 7 days free, then $5 a month for all eleven languages.

Start learning free

Mandarin · Free printables

Practice worksheets and infographics

Practice worksheets with answer keys built in, plus infographic and listicle formats. Open any one to view, print or save.

Part of Kilo Lingo Plus

Printables beyond chapters 1 and 2 are part of Kilo Lingo Plus. Sign up free and start your free week to download as many as you like: no card.

Start your free week (no card)

More grammar on this course

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between (dànshì) and (búguò)?
Both mean 'but'. (búguò) is lighter and more conversational, closer to 'though' or 'mind you': ， (zhè jiā diàn búcuò, búguò yǒudiǎn guì), this shop's good, though it's a bit pricey. In most sentences the two can swap.
Can (suīrán) be used without (dànshì)?
Not on its own. When the clause comes first, the second clause needs a partner: (dànshì), (kěshì) or (háishi). ， (suīrán hěn guì, wǒ háishi mǎi le), it was dear, but I bought it anyway.
What does (háishi) mean in …?
'Still' or 'anyway': it happened despite the first clause. It goes after the subject and before the verb: ， (suīrán xià yǔ, wǒ háishi qù), although it's raining, I'm still going.
How do you say 'had better' in Mandarin?
Put (háishi) before the verb, usually with (ba) at the end: (wǒmen háishi zuò dìtiě ba), we'd better take the underground. It says you have weighed the options and picked the wiser one.
Can (dànshì) and (háishi) go in the same sentence?
Yes. They sit in different places, so they stack: ， (suīrán xià yǔ, dànshì wǒ háishi qù). opens the clause; goes before the verb.