却

què

Meaning

却 is an adverb expressing contrast or an unexpected result: “yet”, “however”, “but”, “instead”.

却 is usually placed after the subject and before the verb.

Basic structure

Subject + 却 + Verb / Adjective

Examples

有(Yǒu)人(rén)觉(jué)得(de)有(yǒu)房(fáng)子(zi)和(hé)汽(qì)车(chē)就(jiù)是(shì)幸(xìng)福(fú)，有(yǒu)人(rén)却(què)认(rèn)为(wéi)找(zhǎo)到(dào)真(zhēn)正(zhèng)的(de)爱(ài)情(qíng)才(cái)是(shì)幸(xìng)福(fú)。

Some think owning a house and a car is happiness, while others believe finding true love is.

一(Yī)个(ge)脾(pí)气(qi)不(bù)好(hǎo)的(de)人(rén)虽(suī)然(rán)不(bù)一(yī)定(dìng)让(ràng)人(rén)讨(tǎo)厌(yàn)，但(dàn)是(shì)却(què)很(hěn)难(nán)跟(gēn)人(rén)交(jiāo)朋(péng)友(you)。

A person with a bad temper may not necessarily be disliked by others, but it is difficult for them to make friends.

现(Xiàn)在(zài)很(hěn)多(duō)人(rén)虽(suī)然(rán)住(zhù)在(zài)同(tóng)一(yī)个(ge)楼(lóu)里(lǐ)，但(dàn)是(shì)却(què)从(cóng)来(lái)没(méi)说(shuō)过(guo)话(huà)。

Nowadays many people live in the same building, yet have never spoken to each other.

When is 却 used?

却 commonly appears after these, strengthening the contrast in the second clause: 虽然……却…… 尽管……却…… 但是……却……

却 vs. 但是

但是 is a conjunction joining two clauses; 却 is an adverb inside the second clause. They can be used together.

我(Wǒ)很(hěn)累(lèi)，但(dàn)是(shì)我(wǒ)要(yào)工(gōng)作(zuò)。

I'm very tired, but I have to work.

我(Wǒ)很(hěn)累(lèi)，却(què)要(yào)工(gōng)作(zuò)。

I'm very tired, yet I have to work.

我(Wǒ)很(hěn)累(lèi)，但(dàn)是(shì)却(què)要(yào)工(gōng)作(zuò)。

I'm very tired, but I still have to work.

Quick rule

Subject + 却 + Verb → yet / however / but

他(Tā)很(hěn)年(nián)轻(qīng)，却(què)很(hěn)有(yǒu)经(jīng)验(yàn)。

He is very young, yet very experienced.

却 = yet / however Usually after the subject and before the verb. Introduces a mild contrast or unexpected result.