"But" StatementsHSK 5
Expressing contrariness with 倒
The adverb 倒 expresses that something is contrary to expectations, often appearing in the second clause after a statement that sets up an expectation. It can be translated as 'actually' or 'but surprisingly' and is sometimes paired with 也 or 又 to sound less abrupt. Note that this is distinct from 倒's use as a verb meaning 'to fall.'
Structure
⋯⋯ ，Subj. + 倒 + (也 / 又) ⋯⋯
The first clause creates an expectation, which 倒 contradicts.
Examples
- 我帮他，倒不是因为喜欢他，是因为他工作很努力。Wǒ bāng tā, dào bù shì yīnwèi xǐhuan tā, shì yīnwèi tā gōngzuò hěn nǔlì.I helped him not because I liked him, but because he worked very hard.
- 他不是很努力，成绩倒也不错。Tā bù shì hěn nǔlì, chéngjì dào yě bùcuò.He's not very hard-working, but his scores also aren't bad.
- 已经是春天了，倒又冷起来了。Yǐjīng shì chūntiān le, dào yòu lěng qǐlái le.It's already spring, but it's actually getting colder.
- 不吃药，病倒慢慢好了。Bù chī yào, bìng dào mànman hǎo le.Without taking any medicine, I'm actually slowly getting better.
- 英语不是他的母语，他说得倒挺地道的。Yīngyǔ bù shì tā de mǔyǔ, tā shuō de dào tǐng dìdao de.English is not his mother language, but he speaks quite native-like.