Showing Contrast – 倒是 dàoshì 2

Grammar Point:
The function of 倒是 dàoshì in Chinese is to highlight a contrast, particularly when the second idea is unexpected or goes against what you might assume. It emphasizes a surprising or contrary situation based on the first condition.

Structure

Statement 1，S + 倒是 dàoshì + Statement 2

The first statement often implies an expectation or assumption, and the second statement shows a surprising or unexpected result.

這zhè家jiā店diàn的de評價píngjià很hěn低dī， 實際shíjì來lái吃chī後hòu， 菜cài倒是dàoshì不錯búcuò， 就是jiùshì有點yǒudiǎn貴guì这zhè家jiā店diàn的de评价píngjià很hěn低dī， 实际shíjì来lái吃chī后hòu， 菜cài倒是dàoshì不错búcuò， 就是jiùshì有点儿yǒudiǎnr贵guì
The reviews of this restaurant are low, but after actually eating here, the dishes are not bad, just a bit expensive.

她tā常常chángcháng說shuō她tā沒méi時間shíjiān， 追劇zhuījù的de時間shíjiān倒是dàoshì不bù少shǎo她tā常常chángcháng说shuō她tā没méi时间shíjiān， 追剧zhuījù的de时间shíjiān倒是dàoshì不bù少shǎo
She often says she doesn’t have time, but she seems to have plenty of time to binge-watch shows.

我wǒ的de貓māo平時píngshí都dōu叫jiào不bù來lái， 吃飯chīfàn時間shíjiān倒是dàoshì一yí叫jiào就jiù來lái我wǒ的de猫māo平时píngshí都dōu叫jiào不bù来lái， 吃饭chīfàn时间shíjiān倒是dàoshì一yí叫jiào就jiù来lái
My cat usually doesn’t come when I call, but during mealtime, it comes right away when I call.

他tā一直yìzhí說shuō單身dānshēn多duō好hǎo， 結果jiéguǒ倒是dàoshì第一dìyī個ge結婚jiéhūn的de他tā一直yìzhí说shuō单身dānshēn多duō好hǎo， 结果jiéguǒ倒是dàoshì第一dìyī个ge结婚jiéhūn的de
He always says how great being single is, but he’s actually the first one to get married.

很hěn多duō人rén說shuō中文zhōngwén難nán學xué， 我wǒ覺得juéde文法wénfǎ倒是dàoshì不bú複雜fùzá， 就是jiùshì字zì很hěn難nán很hěn多duō人rén说shuō中文zhōngwén难nán学xué， 我wǒ觉得juéde语法yǔfǎ倒是dàoshì不bú复杂fùzá， 就是jiùshì字zì很hěn难nán
Many people say Chinese is hard to learn, but I think the grammar is not complicated; it’s just the characters that are difficult.

你nǐ嫌xián50 塊kuài的de飯fàn太tài貴guì， 500 塊kuài的de衣服yīfú你nǐ倒是dàoshì沒問題méiwèntí你nǐ嫌xián50 块kuài的de饭fàn太tài贵guì， 500 块kuài的de衣服yīfu你nǐ倒是dàoshì没问题méiwèntí
You think 50 bucks for a meal is too expensive, but 500 bucks for clothes doesn’t seem like a problem.

你nǐ說shuō的de跟gēn大廚dàchú一樣yíyàng， 做zuò的de飯fàn倒是dàoshì完全wánquán沒méi你nǐ說shuō的de厲害lìhài你nǐ说shuō的de跟gēn大厨dàchú一样yíyàng， 做zuò的de饭fàn倒是dàoshì完全wánquán没méi你nǐ说shuō的de厉害lìhài
You sound like a chef, but the food you actually make is nothing like what you said it would be.

• Using 倒是 dàoshì as “Indeed” (HSK 5)

• Shifting Focus with 倒是 dàoshì (HSK 7-9)