却/卻 què Grammar

Grammar Point:
卻却 què is an adverb in Chinese that is commonly used to indicate a contrast between two statements. Although it is similar in meaning to the English conjunction “but” or “however”, it is not usually used to link two sentences.

Structure

Sentence ，(但是 +) S₂ + 卻/却

When using 卻却 què, the first clause of the sentence expresses an expectation or assumption, while the second clause presents information that contradicts or contrasts with the first clause. When the subject of the first and second clauses is the same, it is common to drop the subject of the second clause.

她tā每天měitiān去qù夜店yèdiàn跟gēn派對pàiduì瘋fēng， 但是dànshì功課gōngkè卻què很hěn好hǎo她tā每天měitiān去qù夜店yèdiàn跟gēn派对pàiduì疯fēng， 但是dànshì功课gōngkè却què很hěn好hǎo
She goes wild to nightclubs and parties every day, but her schoolwork is excellent.

我wǒ又是yòushì運動yùndòng又是yòushì節食jiéshí， 但是dànshì今天jīntiān量liáng體重tǐzhòng卻què胖pàng了le我wǒ又是yòushì运动yùndòng又是yòushì节食jiéshí， 但是dànshì今天jīntiān量liáng体重tǐzhòng却què胖pàng了le
I exercise and diet, but I gained weight when I weighed myself today.

你nǐ學xué了le那麽nàme久jiǔ的de中文zhōngwén， 卻què一yí句jù話huà也yě說shuō不bù出來chūlái嗎ma？ 你nǐ学xué了le那麽nàme久jiǔ的de中文zhōngwén， 却què一yí句jù话huà也yě说shuō不bù出来chūlái吗ma？
You have studied Chinese for so long, but you can’t say a single sentence?

你的nǐde衣服yìfú雖然suīrán是shì名牌míngpái， 但是dànshì看起來kànqǐlái卻què很hěn廉價liánjià你的nǐde衣服yìfu虽然suīrán是shì名牌míngpái， 但是dànshì看起来kànqǐlái却què很hěn廉价liánjià
Your clothes are designer brands, but they look cheap.

搞什麼gǎoshénme！ 今天jīntiān不用búyòng上課shàngkè， 可是kěshì卻què沒有méiyǒu人rén通知tōngzhī我wǒ！ 搞什么gǎoshénme！ 今天jīntiān不用búyòng上课shàngkè， 可是kěshì却què没有méiyǒu人rén通知tōngzhī我wǒ！
What the hack? No class today, but no one told me!

FYI
搞什麼么 gǎo shénme is a common slang phrase in Chinese, which can be translated to “What the hack?” in English. It is an informal expression often used in casual conversations among friends or peers. The phrase 搞 gǎo literally means “to do” or “to make”, and 什麼么 shénme means “what”. It’s a great way to show your surprise or confusion in a lighthearted and playful way, especially when you’re chatting with your friends or peers. So, next time you want to spice up your conversations with some cool Chinese slang, don’t forget to use “搞什麼么“!

她tā住zhù在zài台灣Táiwān5 年nián了le， 卻què一yí句jù中文zhōngwén也yě不會búhuì她tā住zhù在zài台湾Táiwān5 年nián了le， 却què一yí句jù中文zhōngwén也yě不会búhuì
She has lived in Taiwan for 5 years, but she can’t even speak a word of Chinese.

Common Mistakes

Remember that 卻却 què is not a conjunction, so it should not be placed before the subject.

我wǒ很hěn愛ài我的wǒde貓māo， 卻què我的wǒde貓māo不愛búài我wǒ我wǒ很hěn爱ài我的wǒde猫māo， 却què我的wǒde猫māo不爱búài我wǒ ❌
I love my cat, but my cat doesn’t love me.

我wǒ很hěn愛ài我的wǒde貓māo， 我的wǒde貓māo卻què不愛búài我wǒ我wǒ很hěn爱ài我的wǒde猫māo， 我的wǒde猫māo却què不爱búài我wǒ ✅
I love my cat, but my cat doesn’t love me.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️She eats a lot but does not gain weight. I envy her so much.

她tā吃chī很hěn多duō卻què不會búhuì胖pàng， 好hǎo羨慕xiànmù她tā吃chī很hěn多duō却què不会búhuì胖pàng， 好hǎo羡慕xiànmù

✔️ You’re an American, but your Chinese has no accent at all. That’s amazing!

你nǐ是shì美國人měiguórén， 可是kěshì你的nǐde中文zhōngwén卻què沒有méiyǒu任何rènhé口音kǒuyìn， 太tài厲害lìhài了le！ 你nǐ是shì美国人měiguórén， 可是kěshì你的nǐde中文zhōngwén却què没有méiyǒu任何rènhé口音kǒuyìn， 太tài厉害lìhài了le！

✔️ We agreed to have dinner together today, but he didn’t show up.

說好shuōhǎo今天jīntiān一起yìqǐ吃飯chīfàn的de， 他tā卻què沒méi出現chūxiàn说好shuōhǎo今天jīntiān一起yìqǐ吃饭chīfàn的de， 他tā却què没méi出现chūxiàn