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却 (què) — (adverb) but, yet, however (indicating contrast or unexpectedness)

Definition

却 (què) is a written/literary 'but, yet' meaning "contrary to expectation" — stronger contrast than spoken 不过. Sits after the surprising clause to highlight an unexpected result.

adverb
butyethowever (indicating contrast or unexpectedness)
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，却。
    Tiān qì hěn lěng, què tā chuān dé hěn shǎo.
    The weather is very cold, yet he wears very little.
  • ，却。
    Tā xué xí hěn nǔ lì, chéng jì què bù hǎo.
    He studies very hard, but his grades are not good.
  • ，却。
    Wǒ yǐ wéi tā zhī dào zhè jiàn shì, tā què shén me dōu bù zhī dào.
    I thought he knew about this matter, yet he knows nothing at all.

Grammar

Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4500 Most Frequent Chinese WordsHSK 2.0 Level 41000 Most Frequent Chinese Words2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

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