Although in Chinese

Grammar Point:
Although 雖虽然, suīrán and but 但是, dànshì can both be translated as ‘although’ and ‘but,’ in English, you wouldn’t use ‘but’ in the same sentence as ‘although.’ In Chinese, however, ‘although’ and ‘but’ are often used together, especially in written text.

Structure

雖然/虽然 ······，但是 or 可是 ······

Think of ‘although’ and ‘but’ as a set in Chinese, where ‘but’ is always required. Besides 但是 (dànshì), there are four other ways to express ‘but’ that can be used interchangeably: 可是 (kěshì, which is less strong), 還还是 (háishì, meaning ‘still’), 不過过 (búguò, more formal), and 卻 (què, also formal)

我wǒ雖然suīrán沒有méiyǒu錢qián， 但是dànshì我wǒ有yǒu夢想mèngxiǎng我wǒ虽然suīrán没有méiyǒu钱qián， 但是dànshì我wǒ有yǒu夢想mèngxiǎng
Although I do not have money, I have a dream.
(Subject can be either in front of 雖然 suīrán or after it.)

雖然suīrán他tā的de臉liǎn很hěn帥shuài， 可是kěshì個性gexìng真的zhēnde很hěn差chā虽然suīrán他tā的de脸liǎn很hěn帅shuài， 可是kěshì个性gexìng真的zhēnde很hěn差chà
Although his face is very good-looking, his personality is really terrible.

你nǐ雖然suīrán有yǒu很hěn多duō工作gōngzuò經驗jīngyàn， 我們wǒmen還是háishì覺得juéde你nǐ不bú適合shìhé我們wǒmen公司gōngsī你nǐ虽然suīrán有yǒu很hěn多duō工作gōngzuò经验jīngyàn， 我们wǒmen还是háishì觉得juéde你nǐ不bú适合shìhé我们wǒmen公司gōngsī
Although you have a lot of work experience, we still think you are not suitable for our company.

雖然suīrán你nǐ覺得juéde你nǐ沒有méiyǒu錯cuò， 不過búguò大家dàjiā都dōu覺得juéde是shì你nǐ的de錯cuò虽然suīrán你nǐ觉得juéde你nǐ没有méiyǒu错cuò， 不过búguò大家dàjiā都dōu觉得juéde是shì你nǐ的de错cuò
Although you think you are not wrong, we all think it is your fault.

雖然/虽然 ······，但 or 可 ······

In spoken Chinese, it is okay to make it short.

他tā雖然suīrán有錢yǒuqián但dàn沒有méiyǒu時間shíjiān他tā虽然suīrán有钱yǒuqián但dàn没有méiyǒu时间shíjiān
Although he has money he has no time.

雖然suīrán我wǒ明天míngtiān有空yǒukōng， 可kě我wǒ想xiǎng在zài家jiā休息xiūxí虽然suīrán我wǒ明天míngtiān有空yǒukōng， 可kě我wǒ想xiǎng在zài家jiā休息xiūxi
Although I’m free tomorrow, I want to stay home and rest.

Structure 2

儘管/尽管 + S ······，(但是 or 可是) + 還是/还是 ······

儘尽管 jǐnguǎn means “even though.” The way to use it is similar to the way we use 雖虽然 suīrán and 但是 dànshì, but the tones are a little stronger. Unlike 雖虽然 suīrán, you can not put the subject before 儘尽管 jǐnguǎn.

儘管jǐnguǎn我wǒ不bù喜歡xǐhuān吃chī南瓜nánguā， 但是dànshì我wǒ還是háishì為了wèile健康jiànkāng吃chī了le一些yìxiē尽管jǐnguǎn我wǒ不bù喜欢xǐhuan吃chī南瓜nánguā， 但是dànshì我wǒ还是háishì为了wèile健康jiànkāng吃chī了le一些yìxiē
Even though I don’t like pumpkins, I still ate some for health reasons.

儘管jǐnguǎn在zài中國Zhōngguó的de時間shíjiān很hěn短duǎn， 我wǒ還是háishì不會búhuì忘記wàngjì你們nǐmen的de尽管jǐnguǎn在zài中国Zhōngguó的de时间shíjiān很hěn短duǎn， 我wǒ还是háishì不会búhuì忘记wàngjì你们nǐmen的de
Even though my time in China was short, I will never forget you!

Common Mistakes

雖然suīrán外面wàimiàn很hěn冷lěng， 我wǒ沒méi穿chuān外套wàitào虽然suīrán外面wàimiàn很hěn冷lěng， 我wǒ没méi穿chuān外套wàitào X
Although it was cold outside, I did not wear a jacket.

Don’t forget the “but”!!

Common Usage in Movies and Lyrics

儘管如此jǐnguǎnrúcǐ尽管如此jǐnguǎnrúcǐ

It always appears at the beginning of a sentence. It means ‘even though in this (situation).’

儘管如此jǐnguǎnrúcǐ， 我wǒ還是háishì愛ài你nǐ尽管如此jǐnguǎnrúcǐ， 我wǒ还是háishì爱ài你nǐ
Even so, I still love you.

儘管如此jǐnguǎnrúcǐ， 他tā還是háishì你nǐ爸爸bàba啊a尽管如此jǐnguǎnrúcǐ， 他tā还是háishì你nǐ爸爸bàba啊a
Even so, he’s still your father.

A Song named 儘管如此/尽管如此