Correlative Adverb: 却 (But / Yet)
关联副词：却
Express unexpected contrast or contradiction using the adverb 却
Place 却 before the verb or adjective in the second clause to signal that the content contrasts with or contradicts what was expected from the first clause. 却 always appears in the second clause, never the first.
却 is an adverb, not a conjunction — it goes inside the clause (before the verb), not between clauses. This is different from 但是 or 可是, which are conjunctions placed between clauses. 却 and 但是 can even be used together: 但是他却不来。
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Correlative Adverb: 却 (But / Yet) (关联副词：却)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 关联副词：却 pattern
New here?
Understanding 关联副词：却
The adverb 却 (què) is one of the most elegant contrast markers in Chinese. While you already know conjunctions like 但是 and 可是 to express "but," 却 works differently — it is an adverb placed before the verb within the contrasting clause, adding a sense of surprise or unexpectedness. When you say 我来了，他却没来, the 却 highlights the contrast: "I came, but he (unexpectedly) did not." The key distinction is that 却 emphasizes the speaker's sense that reality defied expectation. It is more literary and expressive than simply saying 但是, and it can be combined with 但是 for extra emphasis. 却 always appears in the second clause and must be placed before the verb, after the subject. Mastering 却 elevates your Chinese from functional to expressive.
Key Points
- 却 (què) = "but / yet / however" — emphasizes unexpected contrast.
- 却 is an ADVERB placed before the verb, not a conjunction between clauses.
- Position: Subject + 却 + verb/adjective (always in the second clause).
- Can combine with conjunctions: 但是……却…… / 虽然……却……
- Implies the speaker finds the contrast surprising or noteworthy.
- More literary and expressive than 但是 alone.
- Cannot appear in the first clause — only in the contrasting second clause.
Chinese literature and poetry make heavy use of 却 to create dramatic contrast and irony. The famous line 却道天凉好个秋 (by Xīn Qìjí) uses 却 to express a bittersweet contradiction. Understanding 却 opens the door to appreciating Chinese literary expression.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
我来了，他却没来。
I came, but he did not.
同学们都出去活动了，他却坐在教室里面不动。
All the classmates went out for activities, but he just sat in the classroom without moving.
虽然他很聪明，学习却不认真。
Although he is smart, he does not study seriously.
大家都同意了，他却反对。
Everyone agreed, but he opposed.
她说不饿，却吃了很多。
She said she was not hungry, yet she ate a lot.
我等了很久，他却一直没来。
I waited for a long time, but he never came.
外面下着大雨，他却没带伞。
It was raining heavily outside, yet he did not bring an umbrella.
Common Mistakes
却 must come AFTER the subject and BEFORE the verb. It cannot start the clause.
却 belongs in the contrasting (second) clause, not the first. The first clause sets up the expectation; the second clause (with 却) shows the contrast.
When combining 但是 and 却, the conjunction 但是 comes first (between clauses), then 却 goes before the verb inside the clause.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Remember: 却 is an adverb (goes before the verb), while 但是 is a conjunction (goes between clauses). They serve different grammatical roles.
The pattern 虽然……却…… is very common and sounds more sophisticated than 虽然……但是……
Use 却 when you want to emphasize surprise or irony in the contrast.
Practice by thinking of contradictions: 他说喜欢运动，却从不锻炼 (He says he likes sports, yet he never exercises).
Homework
Write five sentences about surprising contradictions you have observed in life using 却. For example: 他总是说要减肥，却每天吃很多甜点。Try to use 虽然……却…… in at least two of them.