转折复句 · HSK 4 (new at this level)

HSK 4 Pattern: 尽管…但是/可是…

Concedes a fact, then states something contrary. The first clause is TRUE, but the second clause contradicts expectations.

尽管 + fact, 但是/可是/还是 + contrary result

Examples / 例句

尽管天气很冷，他还是坚持每天跑步。
Jǐnguǎn tiānqì hěn lěng, tā háishi jiānchí měitiān pǎobù.
Despite the cold weather, he still runs every day.
还是 emphasizes persistence against the odds
尽管工作很忙，但是她总是按时吃饭。
Jǐnguǎn gōngzuò hěn máng, dànshì tā zǒngshì ànshí chīfàn.
Despite being busy at work, she always eats on time.
但是 is the standard pair with 尽管
尽管他解释了很多遍，大家还是不理解。
Jǐnguǎn tā jiěshì le hěn duō biàn, dàjiā háishi bù lǐjiě.
Despite his many explanations, no one understood.
还是不 = still don't (negative persistence)
尽管这次考试比较难，但是大部分同学都通过了。
Jǐnguǎn zhè cì kǎoshì bǐjiào nán, dànshì dà bùfen tóngxué dōu tōngguò le.
Despite this exam being relatively hard, most students still passed.
Common HSK 4 exam-context sentence; 大部分…都 widens the contrast
尽管他来中国才两年，但是汉语已经说得很流利了。
Jǐnguǎn tā lái Zhōngguó cái liǎng nián, dànshì Hànyǔ yǐjīng shuō de hěn liúlì le.
Despite only being in China for two years, his Chinese is already very fluent.
才 + 已经 highlights surprising progress — classic HSK 4 reading topic

Choose the meaning first / 先看要表达什么

尽管路很远，他每天还是走路上班。The distance is acknowledged, then the outcome goes against expectation. Compare 因为路很远，所以他坐车上班。Here distance explains the result. 先分清“转折”与“因果”，再填关联词。

Practise the pattern / 开始练习 →

Common Errors & Meaning Differences / 易错点与表达区别

△ 尽管下着雨，所以我们带了伞。
✓ 因为下着雨，所以我们带了伞。／尽管下着雨，我们还是出发了。
Taking an umbrella follows from rain; that is cause and effect. Leaving despite rain sets up a contrast. 尽管 introduces a concession, not a reason paired with 所以.
△ 尽管很累，所以我早点睡了。
✓ 尽管很累，但是我还是坚持工作。/ 因为很累，所以我早点睡了。
尽管 pairs with 但是/还是 (contrast), NOT 所以 (result). If using 所以, the cause word should be 因为.
Easily confused: 尽管 usually acknowledges a fact and contrasts it with the result. 即使 presents a concession that cannot change the result. 不是简单的“过去用尽管、将来用即使”。 See comparison →

Fill in the Blanks / 填空练习

Fill every blank separately, using the meaning shown below the sentence. Spaces around words are ignored. Feedback lists reviewed answers; an unlisted rewrite is not automatically ungrammatical.

路很远，他每天都走路上班。

Despite the long road...

尽管很累，他还是坚持完成了。

...but he still finished

尽管下着大雨，他出门了。

...he still went out

Use it in a new sentence / 换句子表达

已知事实：天已经下雨了，小李仍然按计划去跑步。用“尽管……但是……”把两点连成一句话。 / It is already raining, but Xiaoli still goes running as planned.

下雨是已经发生的事实；仍去跑步是与通常预期不同的结果。 / Link an actual fact with an unexpected outcome.

草稿只保留在当前页面，离开前请自行复制。Draft stays on this page only; copy it before leaving.

Compare one possible answer / 对照一种参考表达

尽管已经下雨了，但是小李还是按计划去跑步了。

Other correct wording is possible. Check the intended meaning, not exact wording. / 可以有其他正确表达，重点是保留题意。

Quick Quiz / 小测验

___价格比较贵，___这家餐厅的菜确实好吃。
Concession (expensive BUT good) → 尽管…但是.
要表达“道歉已经发生，但她仍不原谅”，选择让步关系：___他已经道歉了，她___不肯原谅他。
尽管…还是 contrasts the apology with the unexpected refusal. 因为…所以 would make the apology the reason for refusing. 即使他已经道歉了，她也不肯原谅他 can be used with a concessive perspective; 已经 alone does not make 即使 ungrammatical.
___学中文不容易，___越来越多的人开始学了。
Concessive contrast → 尽管/虽然…但是. Never 所以.
All Grammar Topics Take a Mock Exam Sentence Ordering

尽管…但是/可是… FAQ

When is 尽管…但是/可是… tested in HSK 4?

尽管…但是/可是… (Despite... but...) appears in HSK 4 reading comprehension (Q66-85) when texts use complex sentences, in 阅读排序 (Q56-65) where this pattern's connectors signal sentence order, and in listening 段落 (Q26-45) where the speaker uses it to express concedes a fact, then states something contrary.

What's the most common mistake with 尽管…但是/可是…?

尽管 usually acknowledges a fact and contrasts it with the result. 即使 presents a concession that cannot change the result. 不是简单的“过去用尽管、将来用即使”。

Is 尽管…但是/可是… required at HSK 4 or higher?

HSK 4 (new at this level)

Grammar Hub 不管…都/也… →