尽管…，毕竟／总是…
although …, after all …: the second fact outweighs the first
Structure
尽管 让步的事实 ， （主语） 毕竟／总是 更重要的事实
What it means
Although …, after all …: the first clause grants a fact, then 毕竟 brings in the weightier fact on which the speaker’s judgement rests.
How it is built
尽管 + conceded fact + comma + (subject) + 毕竟／总是 + weightier fact: 尽管他只学了两年中文，毕竟在中国生活过 (he has studied Chinese for only two years, but he has lived in China, after all).
When to use it
毕竟 is the usual choice in writing. 总是 here means ‘after all, in any case’, not ‘always’ (孩子总是孩子). 尽管…还是／仍然… states a result in spite of the first fact; 毕竟 states the weightier fact itself.
Watch out
Not for a plain ‘but still’: ✗ 尽管下雨，他毕竟去了 ✓ 尽管下雨，他还是去了.
Examples
尽管沃尔沃近年来也面临新的挑战，这笔并购毕竟实现了双赢。
Although Volvo has faced new challenges in recent years, the deal did, after all, work for both sides.
尽管他只学了两年中文，毕竟在中国生活过，听力比同学好得多。
He has only studied Chinese for two years, but he has lived in China, after all, and his listening is far better than his classmates’.
尽管方案最后没被采用，总是一次有益的尝试。
Although the plan was not adopted in the end, it was at least a worthwhile attempt.
Learn this in Lesson 185 · HSK 7–9: 吉利收购沃尔沃 (Geely buys Volvo)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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