New here? This is lesson 202 of a free 240-lesson Simplified Chinese course.
Although, but in Simplified Chinese
Yi-Jun thinks the cheaper flat is enough. You want the one that costs more, because it is closer to the MRT and quieter at night.
Concede her point, then still make yours. Learn although, even so, not only, and having said that.
You will argue at Banyan Breakfast. A-Li's soy milk stays unfinished, and the fortune slip stays in the till.
By the end of this lesson
Concede a point with although or even so, then still make your own.
- 虽然很贵，但是很值得Although it's expensive, it's worth it.
- 虽然我不会，不过我想试试Though I can't, I'd like to try.
- 尽管如此，我还是去了Even so, I went anyway.
- 不但好吃，而且便宜Not only tasty but cheap.
- 话虽如此Having said that.
- 反正都来了Since we're here anyway.
Scene — the dearer flat
Maya and Yi-Jun sit at Banyan Breakfast after comparing two listings. Yi-Jun likes the cheaper one. Maya wants the dearer flat near the MRT.
She has not visited that flat yet. Auntie Lin sets down a plate. A-Li is at the back with his unfinished soy milk. Nobody opens the fortune slip.
Learn — concede, then still argue
Listen to six lines for conceding a point and still making yours. Although, even so, and having said that keep the other person in, then you finish.
Say each line out loud after you hear it.
虽然很贵，但是很值得
Although it's expensive, it's worth it.
When to use it: Use this to grant a high price, then say the value still wins.
虽然 names the point you grant; 但是 turns to what you still believe.
Say it: The last syllable of 值得 is a second tone, not a light one.
虽然我不会，不过我想试试
Though I can't, I'd like to try.
When to use it: Use this when you cannot do it yet, but you still want to try.
不过 after 虽然 is a softer but, then you state what you still want.
Say it: 不 before a fourth tone rises to a second tone.
尽管如此，我还是去了
Even so, I went anyway.
When to use it: Use this after a reason not to go, when you went anyway.
尽管如此 packs the objection; 还是 says you did the thing anyway.
Say it: The first of two third tones in 尽管 rises.
不但好吃，而且便宜
Not only tasty but cheap.
When to use it: Use this to stack two good points, with the second even stronger.
不但 flags the first plus; 而且 adds a second plus, not a contrast.
话虽如此
Having said that.
When to use it: Use this to pause after granting a point, before your own.
Say this whole chunk, then add the point you still want to make.
反正都来了
Since we're here anyway.
When to use it: Use this when you are already there and may as well continue.
反正 treats the situation as settled, so the next step feels obvious.
Story — Maya's case at breakfast
Listen as Maya argues for the dearer flat at breakfast. Yi-Jun names the high price, then Maya still makes her case.
Later Maya goes to see that flat for the first time, and they stand outside anyway.
Yi-Jun那间比较贵欸。That one is more expensive.
Maya虽然很贵，但是很值得。Although it's expensive, it's worth it.- Yi-Jun你觉得值得吗？Do you think it's worth it?
- Maya离捷运站很近。It is very close to the MRT station.
- Yi-Jun太贵了。That's too expensive.
- Maya话虽如此。Having said that.
- Maya晚上比较安静。It's quieter at night.
Auntie Lin美女，不但好吃，而且便宜。Not only tasty but cheap.- Yi-Jun你会跟王先生谈吗？Will you talk it over with Mr. Wang?
- Maya虽然我不会，不过我想试试。Though I can't, I'd like to try.
- Yi-Jun先不要去看啦。Don't go see it for now.
A-Li豆浆还没喝完。The soy milk still isn't finished.- Later Maya visits the dearer flat for the first time.
- Yi-Jun我不是叫你别去吗？Didn't I tell you not to go?
- Maya尽管如此，我还是去了。Even so, I went anyway.
- Yi-Jun反正都来了。Since we're here anyway.
- Maya先上去看看吧。Let's go up and look first.
Practice — although and even so
Try eleven short tasks on conceding and still making your point. Pick the line that fits each moment.
After each answer, read why the others fall short, then say the right line again.
0 of 11 done
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
虽然很贵，但是很值得
What do you say?
What do you say?
Yi-Jun asks if you can talk to Mr. Wang about the lease. You cannot yet, but you want to try.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
Even so, I went anyway.
尽管如此，我还是____了
Swap the word
Swap the word
Auntie Lin praises breakfast. Swap the linker so the second point is an added plus.
不但好吃，____便宜
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Swap the word
Swap the word
You and Yi-Jun are already at the dearer flat. Change the verb so the line says you have arrived.
反正都____了
Match the pairs
Simplified Chinese
虽然很贵，但是很值得Drop the English here虽然我不会，不过我想试试Drop the English here不但好吃，而且便宜Drop the English here话虽如此Drop the English hereEnglish
Pick the reply
Yi-Jun says:
Pick the reply
我们已经到了。
We're already here.
And you reply with:
What does it mean?
What does it mean?
太贵了
What do you say?
What do you say?
You want Yi-Jun's honest view on whether paying more is worth it.
Fill the gap
Fill the gap
It is very close to the MRT station.
离____站很近
Say it — make your case
You play Maya. Concede Yi-Jun's point, then still argue for the dearer flat. Listen to each cue, then say the line out loud.
Tap the microphone to speak. You can replay the other person's line before your turn.
- At Banyan Breakfast, Yi-Jun pushes back on the dearer flat.
- Yi-Jun那间比较贵欸。That one is more expensive.
- Maya (you)Grant the high price, then say it is still worth it.
Grant the high price, then say it is still worth it.
虽然很贵，但是很值得
Although it's expensive, it's worth it.
0 of 7 said
Recap — what you can say now
| Simplified Chinese | English | Play |
|---|---|---|
| 虽然很贵，但是很值得 | Although it's expensive, it's worth it. | |
| 虽然我不会，不过我想试试 | Though I can't, I'd like to try. | |
| 尽管如此，我还是去了 | Even so, I went anyway. | |
| 不但好吃，而且便宜 | Not only tasty but cheap. | |
| 话虽如此 | Having said that. | |
| 反正都来了 | Since we're here anyway. |
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Keep practicing with Yak Cards
Today's although-and-but lines are in Yak Cards with more ways to concede a point.
Review a few of these cards each day so conceding then arguing feels natural.
Open Yak Cards