Lessons 1, 2, 4, 10, 13: Contrast and turning points: 而, 不过, 却, 反而

Connectors and adverbs showing contrast or a result contrary to expectation.

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外边很冷，屋子里却很暖和。

Wàibian hěn lěng, wūzi li què hěn nuǎnhuo.

It's very cold outside, but it's very warm inside.

Explanation

而

(A) used in writing, links two adjectives or two adjective phrases in a coordinate relationship, showing that they complement each other. (B) links adjectives, verbs, or clauses to show contrast; used like 但是 and 却.

却

shows contrast. It is placed before a verb as an adverbial, but cannot be placed before the subject. For example: 外边很冷，屋子里却很暖和; you can't say ★外边很冷，却屋子里很暖和.

反而

based on the preceding clause A, situation B should have appeared in the next clause, but B did not appear and instead situation C, the opposite of B, appeared; this is when 反而 must be used. The appearance of C is against common sense or beyond expectation.

不过

shows contrast, with a milder tone than 但是. Usually placed at the start of the second clause, and often used in speech (colloquial).

当然

an adverb expressing affirmation, beyond doubt. It can be placed before a verb or before the subject, and can also be used on its own to answer a question. Using “当然……，不过……” to turn the meaning around is similar to “虽然……但是……”, but gentler.

Structure

1
Adjadjective而Adj (bổ sung cho nhau)
Used in writing; links two coordinate adjectives or adjective phrases.
- 我现在就是想学汉语，想到中国——这个古老而年轻的国家去看看。
  Wǒ xiànzài jiùshì xiǎng xué Hànyǔ, xiǎng dào Zhōngguó——zhège gǔlǎo ér niánqīng de guójiā qù kànkan.
  Now I just want to study Chinese and go and see China, a country that is both ancient and young.
- 这个故事简短而生动。
  Zhège gùshi jiǎnduǎn ér shēngdòng.
  This story is short yet vivid.
- 我选择这家饭店，花钱少而吃得好。
  Wǒ xuǎnzé zhè jiā fàndiàn, huā qián shǎo ér chī de hǎo.
  I chose this restaurant because you spend little money and eat well.
2
A 而 B (chuyển ngoặt, như 但是 / 却)
Links adjectives, verbs, or clauses to show contrast.
- 这种西红柿好看而不好吃。
  Zhè zhǒng xīhóngshì hǎokàn ér bù hǎochī.
  This kind of tomato looks good but doesn't taste good.
- 哈尔滨还很冷，而中国南方已经春暖花开了。
  Hā'ěrbīn hái hěn lěng, ér Zhōngguó nánfāng yǐjīng chūnnuǎn-huākāi le.
  It is still very cold in Harbin, while southern China already has warm spring weather and blooming flowers.
3
Ssubject却V / Adj
Shows contrast; goes after the subject, not before it.
- 外边很冷，屋子里却很暖和。
  Wàibian hěn lěng, wūzi li què hěn nuǎnhuo.
  It's very cold outside, but it's very warm inside.
- 她学习的时间不长，进步却很快。
  Tā xuéxí de shíjiān bù cháng, jìnbù què hěn kuài.
  She hasn't been studying for long, yet she is making very fast progress.
- 虽然也有点儿想家，但是我却不感到寂寞。
  Suīrán yě yǒudiǎnr xiǎng jiā, dànshì wǒ què bù gǎndào jìmò.
  Although I do miss home a little, I don't feel lonely.
- 当初你的老板不重视你，是因为你的能力不足，却又不努力学习。
  Dāngchū nǐ de lǎobǎn bù zhòngshì nǐ, shì yīnwèi nǐ de nénglì bùzú, què yòu bù nǔlì xuéxí.
  At first the boss didn't take you seriously because your ability wasn't enough, and yet you wouldn't work hard to learn.
4
A，(不但不……，) 反而C
The result C is contrary to common sense or beyond expectation (it should have been B).
- 春天到了，反而下起雪来了。
  Chūntiān dào le, fǎn'ér xià qǐ xuě lái le.
  Spring has come, yet instead it snowed.
- 他离这儿最远，反而来得最早。
  Tā lí zhèr zuì yuǎn, fǎn'ér lái de zuì zǎo.
  He lives the farthest away, yet he arrived the earliest.
- 雨已经下了一天一夜了，不但没有停，反而越下越大了。
  Yǔ yǐjīng xià le yì tiān yí yè le, búdàn méiyǒu tíng, fǎn'ér yuè xià yuè dà le.
  It has rained for a day and a night, and not only has it not stopped, it is raining even harder.
- 我们歌手的工作，生活都不安定，母亲知道了反而更伤心。
  Wǒmen gēshǒu de gōngzuò, shēnghuó dōu bù āndìng, mǔqin zhīdào le fǎn'ér gèng shāngxīn.
  Our life and work as a singer are both unstable, and when Mom found out, she was even more heartbroken.
5
…不过…
A milder contrast than 但是, placed at the start of the second clause, colloquial.
- 房间不大，不过一个人够住了。
  Fángjiān bú dà, búguò yí ge rén gòu zhù le.
  The room isn't big, but it's enough for one person.
- 他好像和我在一个班学习过，不过我忘了他叫什么名字。
  Tā hǎoxiàng hé wǒ zài yí ge bān xuéxí guo, búguò wǒ wàng le tā jiào shénme míngzi.
  It seems he was once in the same class as me, but I've forgotten his name.
- 这一课的生词比较多，不过都不难。
  Zhè yí kè de shēngcí bǐjiào duō, búguò dōu bù nán.
  There are quite a lot of new words in this lesson, but none of them are difficult.
6
当然V / 当然SsubjectV / 当然……，不过……
Affirmation, beyond doubt; can be used on its own to answer; 当然……，不过…… turns the meaning around gently.
- 我说，这样当然好，不过，会不会太麻烦你了？
  Wǒ shuō, zhèyàng dāngrán hǎo, búguò, huì bu huì tài máfan nǐ le?
  I said: that would of course be good, but wouldn't it trouble you too much?
- 能考上大学当然好，但是考不上也不要太难过。
  Néng kǎoshàng dàxué dāngrán hǎo, dànshì kǎo bu shàng yě búyào tài nánguò.
  Getting into university is of course good, but don't be too upset if you don't get in.
- 我读的是中文系，当然希望有机会去中国留学。
  Wǒ dú de shì Zhōngwén xì, dāngrán xīwàng yǒu jīhuì qù Zhōngguó liúxué.
  I'm studying Chinese, so of course I hope to have a chance to study in China.
- A：你也想去桂林旅行吗？ B：当然。
  A: Nǐ yě xiǎng qù Guìlín lǚxíng ma? B: Dāngrán.
  A: Do you want to go to Guilin for a trip too? B: Of course.

Usage notes

却 goes before the verb as an adverbial; it is not placed before the subject.
反而 is used only when result C is contrary to normal expectation or unexpected; for an ordinary contrast, use 却 or 但是.
不过 is milder than 但是 and is often used in spoken language.

Common mistakes

~~但这个电影却她很喜欢。~~
但这个电影她却很喜欢。
却 goes after the subject
~~我虽然很爱她，却她不喜欢我，没办法。~~
我虽然很爱她，但她不喜欢我，没办法。
却 does not go before the subject
~~我们都喜欢看这个电影，他反而不喜欢。~~
我们都喜欢看这个电影，他却不喜欢。
use 却 for an ordinary contrast, not 反而
~~日本同学说日语很容易学，我反而觉得很难学。~~
日本同学说，日语很容易学，但是我觉得很难学。
there is no result contrary to expectation, so 反而 is not used
~~这是很当然的事，各国人都会这样。~~
这是很自然的事，哪国人都会这样。
当然 is an adverb; you cannot say 很当然

Practice

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