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却

què
HSK 2.0 Level 4 HSK 3.0 Level 4 Adverb Very common

Definitions

  1. 1. but
  2. 2. yet
  3. 3. however
  4. 4. while
  5. 5. to go back
  6. 6. to decline
  7. 7. to retreat
  8. 8. nevertheless
  9. 9. even though

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Character focus

Stroke order

7 strokes

Word relationships

Related words

2 items
虽然
suī rán

although; even though (often used correlatively with 可是[kě shì] or 但是[dàn shì] etc)

often paired with 却 in '虽然...却...' pattern
退
tuì

to retreat; to withdraw

related to meaning 'to retreat' or 'to decline'

Synonyms

2 items
但
dàn

but; yet; however; still

used to indicate contrast, similar to 'but' in English
然而
rán ér

however; yet; but

formal written contrast similar to 'however'

Usage notes

Common mistakes

却 is an adverb, not a conjunction; it must be placed after the subject and before the verb, not at the beginning of a clause.

Grammar

Guides that feature 却

Jump into a full guide with fill-in-the-blank drills. Clicking will load the page and move you to the top.

6 guides
HSK 2.0 Level 6+ HSK 3.0 Level 6+ 5 min
不料 for “Unexpectedly”

Use 不料 to start a second clause where things turn out differently from what you expected.

Reading: què Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 6+ HSK 3.0 Level 7–9+ 5 min
别看...，... for “Don’t Be Fooled by …”

Use 别看……，…… to say that something looks one way on the surface, but the truth is different.

Reading: què Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 6 min
却 for “But” Against Expectation

Use 却 after the subject to show that the second part goes against what the first part leads you to expect.

Reading: què Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 6+ 6 min
虽...，但/可/却/也... for Written “Although”

虽 is the written, one-character form of 虽然; it usually follows the subject, and the next clause turns with 但, 可, 却 or 也.

Reading: què Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 7–9+ 6 min
虽说……，但/可…… for “Although …, Still …”

Use 虽说 as a lively, spoken-style 虽然, followed by 但 or 可 in the next clause: 虽说已经到了春天，可天气还是很冷.

Reading: què Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 5+ 7 min
Contrast with 反而 and 却

Practice advanced contrast sentences with 反而, 却, and expectation shifts.

Reading: què Open guide

Example Sentences

5 shown
他忙了几年， 却 一事无成。
He was busy for several years, but accomplished nothing.
我们素不相识， 却 聊得很开心。
We were total strangers, yet we had a pleasant chat.
我们萍水相逢， 却 成了好朋友。
We met by chance but became good friends.
他来了， 却 一句话也不说。
He came, yet didn't say a word.
外面下着雪，屋里 却 暖烘烘的。
Outside it's snowing, but inside it's warm and cozy.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 却

了却
liǎo què

to resolve

冷却
lěng què

to cool off

却是
què shì

nevertheless

退却
tuì què

to retreat

了却此生
liǎo què cǐ shēng

to die

冷却剂
lěng què jì

coolant

冷却塔
lěng què tǎ

cooling tower

冷却水
lěng què shuǐ

cooling water (in a reactor)

却之不恭
què zhī bù gōng

to refuse would be impolite

却倒
què dào

but on the contrary

却才
què cái

just now

却步
què bù

to step back

却病
què bìng

to prevent or treat a disease

忘却
wàng què

to forget

情不可却
qíng bù kě què

unable to refuse because of affection

抛却
pāo què

to discard

推却
tuī què

to repel

曾经沧海难为水，除却巫山不是云
céng jīng cāng hǎi nán wéi shuǐ , chú què wū shān bù shì yún

there are no rivers to one who has crossed the ocean, and no clouds to one who has passed Mount Wu (idiom)

望而却步
wàng ér què bù

to shrink back; to flinch

省却
shěng què

to save

谢却
xiè què

to decline