Although in Chinese – Suīrán

Grammar Point:
雖虽然 suīrán is the most common word used to express “although” in Chinese. It is often placed at the beginning of a sentence or clause.

Structure

雖然/虽然 ⋯⋯ ，但是 or 可是 ⋯⋯

This pattern means “although…, but…” in English. However, in English, the “but” is not necessary, but it is required in Chinese to convey the contrast between the two clauses.

雖然suīrán你nǐ是shì我wǒ媽媽māma， 但是dànshì你nǐ不能bùnéng決定juédìng我的wǒde人生rénshēng虽然suīrán你nǐ是shì我wǒ妈妈māma， 但是dànshì你nǐ不能bùnéng决定juédìng我的wǒde人生rénshēng
Although you are my mother, you cannot decide my life.

他tā雖然suīrán是shì美國人měiguórén， 可是kěshì中文zhōngwén說shuō得de很hěn好hǎo他tā虽然suīrán是shì美国人měiguórén， 可是kěshì中文zhōngwén说shuō得de很hěn好hǎo
Even though he is an American, he speaks Chinese very well.

那nà家jiā餐廳cāntīng雖然suīrán不bù便宜piányí， 但是dànshì超chāo多duō人rén推薦tuījiàn那nà家jiā餐馆cānguǎn虽然suīrán不bù便宜piányi， 但是dànshì超chāo多duō人rén推荐tuījiàn
Even though that restaurant is not cheap, it is highly recommended by many people.

我wǒ雖然suīrán沒méi說話shuōhuà， 但是dànshì不bú代表dàibiǎo我wǒ同意tóngyì我wǒ虽然suīrán没méi说话shuōhuà， 但是dànshì不bú代表dàibiǎo我wǒ同意tóngyì
Just because I didn’t say anything doesn’t mean I agree.

新xīn工作gōngzuò雖然suīrán壓力yālì很hěn大dà， 可是kěshì薪水xīnshuǐ也yě高gāo很hěn多duō新xīn工作gōngzuò虽然suīrán压力yālì很hěn大dà， 可是kěshì薪水xīnshuǐ也yě高gāo很hěn多duō
Although the new job has a lot of pressure, the salary is much higher.

那nà家jiā餐廳cāntīng雖然suīrán那nà家jiā餐馆cānguǎn虽然suīránGoogle有yǒu5 顆kē星xīng， 可是kěshì是shì洗xǐ出來chūlái的de有yǒu5 颗kē星xīng， 可是kěshì是shì洗xǐ出来chūlái的de
Although that restaurant has a 5-star rating on Google, it is a paid review.

FYI
In Taiwan, it’s quite popular for people to check Google reviews before heading to restaurants or stores. Interestingly, many restaurants even offer special discounts if you give them a 5-star rating on Google. This approach allows them to remove negative reviews, which is why it’s called 洗評價 xǐ píngjià (washing the review). It’s a unique practice that showcases how businesses value their online reputation.

雖然/虽然 ⋯⋯ ，還是/还是 ⋯⋯

This pattern means “although…, still…” in English. It shows that even though something is true or happening (first clause), the second clause or result is still true or valid.

雖然suīrán今天jīntiān天氣tiānqì很hěn熱rè， 還是háishì有yǒu很hěn多duō人rén出來chūlái玩wán虽然suīrán今天jīntiān天气tiānqì很hěn热rè， 还是háishì有yǒu很hěn多duō人rén出来chūlái玩儿wánr
Although it’s very hot today, there are still many people going out to play.

你的nǐde工作gōngzuò經驗jīngyàn雖然suīrán很好hěnhǎo， 我們wǒmen還是háishì覺得juéde有點yǒudiǎn超出chāochū預算yùsuàn你的nǐde工作gōngzuò经验jīngyàn虽然suīrán很好hěnhǎo， 我们wǒmen还是háishì觉得juéde有点儿yǒudiǎnr超出chāochū预算yùsuàn
Even though you have great work experience, we still feel it’s a bit beyond our budget.

雖然suīrán我wǒ覺得juéde英文yīngwén很hěn難學nánxué， 還是háishì不能bùnéng擺爛bǎilàn虽然suīrán我wǒ觉得juéde英文yīngwén很hěn难学nánxué， 还是háishì不能bùnéng摆烂bǎilàn
Although I find English difficult to learn, I can’t give up on it.

FYI
The Taiwan slang term 擺爛摆烂 bǎilàn is a colloquial expression that can be translated as “to act lazy” or “to slack off.” It refers to someone intentionally not putting effort into their work or responsibilities, often in a careless or nonchalant manner. It can also imply a lack of motivation or a nonchalant attitude towards life or tasks.

雖然suīrán我wǒ常常chángcháng想要xiǎngyào辭職cízhí， 考慮kǎolǜ到dào現實xiànshí， 還是háishì忍rěn下來xiàlái了le虽然suīrán我wǒ常常chángcháng想要xiǎngyào辞职cízhí， 考虑kǎolǜ到dào现实xiànshí， 还是háishì忍rěn下来xiàlái了le
Although I often think about resigning, considering the reality, I still choose to do nothing.

金牛座jīnniúzuò的de我wǒ雖然suīrán很hěn愛吃àichī， 還是háishì很hěn注重zhùzhòng身材shēncái金牛座jīnniúzuò的de我wǒ虽然suīrán很hěn爱吃àichī， 还是háishì很hěn注重zhùzhòng身材shēncái
As a Taurus, although I love eating, I still watch my figure.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ Although I have a different opinion from yours, your ideas are also very good.

我wǒ想xiǎng的de雖然suīrán跟gēn你的nǐde不bù一樣yíyàng， 但是dànshì你的nǐde想法xiǎngfǎ也yě很hěn好hǎo我wǒ想xiǎng的de虽然suīrán跟gēn你的nǐde不bù一样yíyàng， 但是dànshì你的nǐde想法xiǎngfǎ也yě很hěn好hǎo

✔️ Although my stomach hurts a little, I don’t want to cancel the appointment.

雖然suīrán肚子dùzi有點yǒudiǎn痛tòng， 可是kěshì我wǒ不bù想xiǎng取消qǔxiāo約會yuēhuì虽然suīrán肚子dùzi有点yǒudiǎn痛tòng， 可是kěshì我wǒ不bù想xiǎng取消qǔxiāo约会yuēhuì

✔️ Although you say it’s okay, I still feel very sorry.

雖然suīrán你nǐ說shuō沒關係méiguānxī， 我wǒ還是háishì覺得juéde很hěn抱歉bàoqiàn虽然suīrán你nǐ说shuō没关系méiguānxi， 我wǒ还是háishì觉得juéde很hěn抱歉bàoqiàn

• All different 然 rán in Chinese