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虽说 (suī shuō) — (conjunction) although, though (more colloquial than 虽然)

Definition

虽说 is a colloquial spoken equivalent of 虽然 — same 'although' meaning, used in casual talk and writing. The phrase is usually followed by a comma and a contrasting clause with 但/还是/却.

conjunction
althoughthough (more colloquial than 虽然)

Examples

  • 虽说，。
    suī shuō Tā méi lái, dàn lǐ wù yǐ jīng zhǔn bèi hǎo le.
    Although he didn't come, the gift is already prepared.
  • 虽说，。
    suī shuō Zhè dào cài yǒu diǎn là, wǒ hái shì hěn xǐ huan chī.
    Even though this dish is a bit spicy, I still really like eating it.
  • 虽说，。
    suī shuō Xīn kǔ, tā què cóng bú bào yuàn.
    Though it's hard, he never complains.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 雖; 虽 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
虫虫chóng
Sound part声符shēngfú
唯
唯wéi雖suī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 雖 has 虫, a reptile-like part, and 唯 to give the sound; it originally meant a lizard-like reptile, and its sound was used to write 'although'.

Open 虽 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 說; 说 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
兌
兌duì說shuō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 說 pairs 言 (meaning) with 兌 (sound); the simplified 说 is not the form described here.

Open 说 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

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