# The "however" adverb "却"

<SentenceQuiz>

- 他 是 老板 ，_却_ 没有 人 听 他 的 。
  <!-- - Tā shì lǎobǎn, _què_ méiyǒu rén tīng tā de. -->
  - He's the boss, but nobody listens to him.
- 他 的 学历 很 高 ，能力 _却_ 很 一般 。
  <!-- - Tā de xuélì hěn gāo, nénglì _què_ hěn yībān. -->
  - He's very well-educated, but his ability is average.
- 他们 一见钟情 ， _却_ 没有 在 一起 。
  <!-- - Tāmen yījiànzhōngqíng, _què_ méiyǒu zài yīqǐ. -->
  - They fell in love at first sight, but they didn't end up with each other.
- 这 件 衣服 虽然 是 名牌 ，_但是_ 质量 _却_ 不 怎么样 。
  <!-- - Zhè jiàn yīfu suīrán shì míngpái, _dànshì_ zhìliàng _què_ bù zěnmeyàng. -->
  - Although this clothing is brand-name, the quality is not so good.
- 有些 人 智商 很 高 ，情商 _却_ 很 低 。
  <!-- - Yǒuxiē rén zhìshāng hěn gāo, qíngshāng _què_ hěn dī. -->
  - Some people have high IQ, but really low EQ.
- 他 只有 16 岁，_却_ 比 同龄人 成熟 得 多 。
  <!-- - Tā zhǐyǒu shíliù suì, _què_ bǐ tónglíng rén chéngshú de duō. -->
  - He's only sixteen, but he's much more mature than others his age.
- 我 是 你 最好 的 朋友 ，**你** _却_ 没 邀请 我 。
  <!-- - Wǒ shì nǐ zuì hǎo de péngyou, **nǐ** _què_ méi yāoqǐng wǒ. -->
  - I'm your best friend, but you didn't invite me.
- 我 是 你 最好 的 朋友 ，**但是** 你 _却_ 没 邀请 我 。
  <!-- - Wǒ shì nǐ zuì hǎo de péngyou, **dànshì** nǐ _què_ méi yāoqǐng wǒ. -->
  - I'm your best friend, but you didn't invite me.
- 他 家 很 有钱 ，**他** _却_ 从来 不 炫耀 。
  - His family is rich, but he never flaunts it.
  <!-- - Tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, **tā** _què_ cónglái bù xuànyào. -->
- 他 家 很 有钱 ，**但是** 他 _却_ 从来 不 炫耀 。
  <!-- - Tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, **dànshì** tā _què_ cónglái bù xuànyào. -->
  - His family is rich, but he never flaunts it.

</SentenceQuiz>

<TOC>

- Level: [B2](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B2_grammar_points) / [HSK4](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/HSK4_grammar_points)
- Similar to:
- Used for: [Contrasting](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Contrasting), [Differentiating](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Differentiating)
- Keywords: [却](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%8D%B4)

</TOC>

却 (què) is used to indicate something was contrary to expectations, and is used in a similar way to [倒 (dào)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_Contrariness_with_%22dao%22). However, 却 is generally followed by a negative comment.

## Structure

The overall structure of sentences that use 却 is something like this:

Sentence ，(但是 +) Subj. + 却 ⋯⋯

Normally the first clause above makes a statement, and then the second clause introduces something contrary, generally in the form of a negative comment.

## Examples

In the following examples, take note that 却 comes _after_ the subject in each case, and that it can be used together with 但是.

- 他 是 老板 ，_却_ 没有 人 听 他 的 。
  <!-- - Tā shì lǎobǎn, _què_ méiyǒu rén tīng tā de. -->
  - He's the boss, but nobody listens to him.
- 他 的 学历 很 高 ，能力 _却_ 很 一般 。
  <!-- - Tā de xuélì hěn gāo, nénglì _què_ hěn yībān. -->
  - He's very well-educated, but his ability is average.
- 他们 一见钟情 ， _却_ 没有 在 一起 。
  <!-- - Tāmen yījiànzhōngqíng, _què_ méiyǒu zài yīqǐ. -->
  - They fell in love at first sight, but they didn't end up with each other.
- 这 件 衣服 虽然 是 名牌 ，_但是_ 质量 _却_ 不 怎么样 。
  <!-- - Zhè jiàn yīfu suīrán shì míngpái, _dànshì_ zhìliàng _què_ bù zěnmeyàng. -->
  - Although this clothing is brand-name, the quality is not so good.
- 有些 人 智商 很 高 ，情商 _却_ 很 低 。
  <!-- - Yǒuxiē rén zhìshāng hěn gāo, qíngshāng _què_ hěn dī. -->
  - Some people have high IQ, but really low EQ.
- 他 只有 16 岁，_却_ 比 同龄人 成熟 得 多 。
  <!-- - Tā zhǐyǒu shíliù suì, _què_ bǐ tónglíng rén chéngshú de duō. -->
  - He's only sixteen, but he's much more mature than others his age.

## Common Mistake: Putting 却 Before the Subject

It's also important to point out that 却 is not a [conjunction](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Conjunction); it's an [adverb](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Adverb). Practically speaking, this means that rather than joining two statements, it goes _inside_ a statement (within the second clause). Specifically, it needs to come _after the subject_ and _before the verb_. (Note that when you use a conjunction like 但是 it comes _before_ the subject! 却 is different in this respect. Also, rather than _replacing_ 但是, it can work _with_ it to add emphasis.)

Sometimes the subject of the second clause will be omitted. If there is a subject, however, 却 definitely needs to come _after_ it.

A few examples to give you a better understanding of this:

<div class="wrong">

- 我 是 你 最好 的 朋友 ，_却_ **你** 没 邀请 我 。
  <!-- - Wǒ shì nǐ zuì hǎo de péngyou, _què_ **nǐ** méi yāoqǐng wǒ. -->

</div>

- 我 是 你 最好 的 朋友 ，**你** _却_ 没 邀请 我 。
  <!-- - Wǒ shì nǐ zuì hǎo de péngyou, **nǐ** _què_ méi yāoqǐng wǒ. -->
- 我 是 你 最好 的 朋友 ，**但是** 你 _却_ 没 邀请 我 。
  <!-- - Wǒ shì nǐ zuì hǎo de péngyou, **dànshì** nǐ _què_ méi yāoqǐng wǒ. -->
  - I'm your best friend, but you didn't invite me.

<div class="wrong">

- 他 家 很 有钱 ，_却_ **他** 从来 不 炫耀 。
  <!-- - Tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, _què_ **tā** cónglái bù xuànyào. -->

</div>

- 他 家 很 有钱 ，**他** _却_ 从来 不 炫耀 。
  <!-- - Tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, **tā** _què_ cónglái bù xuànyào. -->
- 他 家 很 有钱 ，**但是** 他 _却_ 从来 不 炫耀 。
  <!-- - Tā jiā hěn yǒuqián, **dànshì** tā _què_ cónglái bù xuànyào. -->
  - His family is rich, but he never flaunts it.

## See also

- [Expressing Contrariness with "倒"](./倒)
- ["On the Contrary" with "反而"](./反而)
- [A Softer "But"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/A_Softer_%22But%22)

## Sources and further reading

### Books

- [HSK Standard Course 4上](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/HSK_Standard_Course_4%E4%B8%8A) (pp. 22) [Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy](https://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA,)
- [Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) ](<https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Chinese_Grammar_-_Broken_down_into_100_items_-_Basic_and_Intermediate_Levels_(%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95%E7%99%BE%E9%A1%B9%E8%AE%B2%E7%BB%83_-_%E5%88%9D%E4%B8%AD%E7%BA%A7)>) (pp. 140-2) [Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy](https://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA,)
- [New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)](<https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_4_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC4)>) (pp. 184) [Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy](https://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA,)