却

què

HSK 2.0 Level 4 HSK 3.0 Level 4 Adverb Very common

Definitions

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

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.

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

to resolve

to cool off

nevertheless

to retreat

to die

coolant

cooling tower

cooling water (in a reactor)

却之不恭

què zhī bù gōng

to refuse would be impolite

but on the contrary

just now

to step back

to prevent or treat a disease

to forget

unable to refuse because of affection

to discard

to repel

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

to save

to decline