TraceHanzi

虽然 meaning in English

suīrán

although; even though (often used correlatively with 可是[ke3 shi4] or 但是[dan4 shi4] etc)

HSK 2conjunctionTraditional 雖然21 strokes

Meaning of 虽然

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

suīrán
  1. although; even though (often used correlatively with 可是[ke3 shi4] or 但是[dan4 shi4] etc)

How to use 虽然

虽然 opens the first clause of a contrast, and the second clause usually starts with 但是 (dànshì) or 可是 (kěshì). It can go before or after the subject. Example: 虽然很累，但是我很开心。(Suīrán hěn lèi, dànshì wǒ hěn kāixīn.) Although I am tired, I am happy.

虽 (suī) means although, and 然 (rán) means so or like this, which you also see in 当然 (dāngrán) and 突然 (tūrán). Think of 虽然 as saying "granted it is so" before you turn the sentence around with 但是.

Common mistake: English speakers often drop 但是 because English never says "although... but". In Chinese the pair 虽然...但是 is normal and sounds more natural than 虽然 alone. Also note that the 然 in 虽然 is said with a light, shortened rising tone in fast speech, but it is still rán, not ran with a neutral tone in careful speech.

虽然 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

巴bā士shì虽suī然rán停tíng了le，但dàn是shì没méi有yǒu人rén下xià车chē。
The bus stopped, but no one got out.
虽suī然rán我wǒ很hěn同tóng情qíng他tā，但dàn却què帮bāng不bù上shàng忙máng。
Much as I pitied him, I could not help him.
虽suī然rán他tā道dào歉qiàn了le，但dàn我wǒ还hái是shì很hěn生shēng气qì。
Even though he apologized, I'm still furious.
虽suī然rán天tiān气qì很hěn冷lěng，但dàn我wǒ还hái是shì出chū去qù了le。
Though it was very cold, I went out.
虽suī然rán有yǒu阳yáng光guāng照zhào射shè，但dàn还hái是shì很hěn冷lěng。
The sun was shining, yet it was cold.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

虽 suī · although · 9 strokes

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9

然 rán · certainly · 12 strokes

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12

Related words

Words that share a character with 虽然.

然后ránhòuthen; after that; afterwards
大自然dàzìránnature (the natural world)
忽然hūránsuddenly; all of a sudden
当然dāngránonly natural; as it should be
突然tūránsudden; abrupt; unexpected
仍然réngránstill; as before; yet
显然xiǎnránclearly; evidently; obviously
自然zìránnature; natural
果然guǒránreally; sure enough
必然bìráninevitable; certain
不然bùránnot so; no
既然jìránsince; as; this being the case

Questions about 虽然

What does 虽然 mean?

虽然 (suīrán) means "although; even though (often used correlatively with 可是[ke3 shi4] or 但是[dan4 shi4] etc)" and is used as a conjunction.

How do you write 虽然?

虽然 is made of 2 characters: 虽 (9 strokes), 然 (12 strokes). That is 21 strokes in total.

Is 虽然 an HSK word?

Yes. 虽然 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

How is 虽然 written in traditional Chinese?

In traditional characters, 虽然 is written 雖然.

Can 虽然 come in the second half of a sentence?

Yes, in spoken and written Chinese you can state the main point first and add the 虽然 clause after, as in 我很开心，虽然很累。In that order you do not use 但是.

What is the difference between 虽然 and 虽说?

Both mean although. 虽说 (suīshuō) is more colloquial, while 虽然 is the standard, neutral choice that works in speech and writing.

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