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虽说 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
虽说suīshuōthoughHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #9419, Very Hard
虽说suīshuōalthoughHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #9419, Very Hard
suīshuō(sui1shuo1)sui shuo T1
  1. 1though
  2. 2although
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March 24, 2026

虽说(雖說)suīshuō(sui1shuo1)

Though (虽说) is a conjunction used to introduce a contrast or concession in Mandarin. It is commonly used in both spoken and written contexts to acknowledge a point while presenting an opposing idea or situation.

Strokes18Frequency#9419DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

The use of 虽说 reflects a common Chinese rhetorical style that values nuance and indirectness. This may be seen in formal speeches or literature where acknowledgment of opposing viewpoints is appreciated.

Memory tip

Think of 虽 (sui) as 'swaying' back and forth between two ideas and 说 (shuo) as 'saying' something. Visualize someone swaying while they speak, acknowledging a point but then presenting a counterpoint.

Meanings of 虽说

suīshuō(sui1shuo1)
1though
2although
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 虽说

虽说Simplified
雖說Traditional
18Strokes
—Radical
连词连词conjunction (conj.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 虽说

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AI study notes for 虽说

Usage Notes

Though is typically used in more formal contexts, so ensure to use it appropriately. A common mistake is to mix it with other conjunctions like '但是' (dànshì) or '可是' (kěshì) which can change the nuance. Remember to follow 虽说 with a clause.

HSK Study Tips

Although 虽说 is not part of the official HSK vocabulary, it is useful for HSK 5 learners and above who are working on complex sentence structures. Focus on how it can help articulate contrasting ideas in your writing and speaking.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 虽说 with other conjunctions like '不过' (búguò) leading to sentences that sound choppy. For example, saying '虽然说我喜欢这个,但我不买' is incorrect; use '虽然我喜欢这个,但我不买' instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 虽说

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Component characters

虽suīalthough
HSK 69 strokes虫
View full entry
说shuōto say
HSK 19 strokes讠
View full entry

How to say though in Chinese

“though” in Chinese is虽说suīshuō

Though (虽说) is a conjunction used to introduce a contrast or concession in Mandarin. It is commonly used in both spoken and written contexts to acknowledge a point while presenting an opposing idea or situation.

When to use 虽说

Though is typically used in more formal contexts, so ensure to use it appropriately. A common mistake is to mix it with other conjunctions like '但是' (dànshì) or '可是' (kěshì) which can change the nuance. Remember to follow 虽说 with a clause.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 虽说 with other conjunctions like '不过' (búguò) leading to sentences that sound choppy. For example, saying '虽然说我喜欢这个,但我不买' is incorrect; use '虽然我喜欢这个,但我不买' instead.

Write 虽说

虽
说

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Frequently asked questions about 虽说

Yes, 虽说 can be used at the beginning of a sentence to introduce a contrasting idea.

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