虽然 (suī rán) — although, even though | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

The everyday 'although / even though' for stating a real fact before the contrast (often paired with 可是, 但是, 还是). 即便 marks a hypothetical; 虽说 is more colloquial.

conjunction

althougheven though

Examples

虽然，。
suī rán Jīn tiān xià yǔ, dàn shì tā hái shì qù gōng yuán le.
Although it rained today, he still went to the park.
虽然，。
suī rán Wǒ hěn xǐ huan zhè běn shū, kě shì méi yǒu qián mǎi.
Although I really like this book, I don't have money to buy it.
虽然，。
suī rán Tā huì shuō zhōng wén, kě shì shuō dé bù hǎo.
Although he can speak Chinese, he doesn't speak it well.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

虽suīeven if

然ránso

虽 conveys 'even if' and 然 conveys 'so', so 虽然 presents a conceded fact before a contrasting result.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

火火huǒfire

Sound part声符shēngfú

肰

肰rán然rán

Same sound today

然 is made from 肰, which gives the sound, and 火, which shows fire, matching the old sense 'to burn'.

Open 然 →