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HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 6 min read

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.

Pattern

Clause 1, subject + 却 + verb/adjective

却 means “but, yet.” It is an adverb, so it goes after the subject of the second clause and before the verb or adjective, never before the subject like 但是.

外面很冷，屋子里却很暖和。

When to use 却 for “But” Against Expectation

却 shows a turn: the first clause makes you expect one thing, and the second clause says the opposite. Unlike 但是 and 可是, 却 is an adverb, so it sits after the subject of the second clause and right before the verb or adjective: 屋子里却很暖和, 他却一直没接. If the second clause has no new subject, 却 simply comes first: 学了三年，却还不会写. You can also use both words together: 但是他却没来.

我给他打了好几次电话，他却一直没接。

I called him several times, but he never picked up.

这道题看起来很简单，做起来却不容易。

This problem looks easy, but it isn’t easy to do.

大家都来了，小王却还没到。

Everyone is here, but Xiao Wang still hasn’t arrived.

他学了三年中文，却还不会写汉字。

He has studied Chinese for three years, yet he still can’t write characters.

Common traps

  • Don’t put 却 before the subject: say 他却没来, not 却他没来.
  • 却 needs a real contrast; for simply adding information, use 也 or 还.
  • 但是 and 却 can appear together (但是他却……), but 却 still goes after the subject.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

我给他打了好几次电话，他 一直没接

I called him several times, but he never picked up
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