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虽说…可…

although, admittedly …, yet …: spoken 虽然

Structure
虽说 事实 , 可/可是/但 转折

What it means

Admits a fact, then turns to a contrasting point: although, admittedly …, yet …. A conversational 虽然.

How it is built

虽说 + admitted fact,可/可是/但 + contrast: 虽说他年纪小,可懂的事不少 (He may be young, but he understands a lot). 虽说 can sit before or after the subject.

When to use it

Spoken and informal writing. It usually pairs with 可 or 可是 instead of the more formal 但是. 虽然…但是… is the neutral textbook form.

Watch out

Keep a turn word in the second half: ✗ 虽说很累,我很开心 ✓ 虽说很累,可我很开心. 可 and 可是 go before the subject; 却 goes after it: 我却很开心.

Examples

虽说各地的口音千差万别,可汉字是统一的。
Accents may differ enormously, but the characters are the same.
虽说他年纪小,可懂的事不少。
He may be young, but he understands a lot.
Learn this in Lesson 34 · HSK 5–6: 方言与普通话 (Dialects and the standard language)
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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