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How to use 倒 (dào) to express “but actually” in Chinese

倒 (dào)⋯⋯

倒 (dǎo) — but actually, contrary to expectation

HSK 4"But" Statements

Rule structure

倒 (dào) softens the statement, expresses mild contrast, or concedes a point before introducing a counter-opinion. It often appears as 倒是 (dào shì).

Examples

雨没有停，倒大起来了。

Yǔ méiyǒu tíng, dào dà qǐlai le.

The rain didn't stop, but got heavier.

天气没有变好倒是变冷了。

Tiānqì méiyǒu biàn hǎo dào shì biànlěng le.

The weather didn't get better, but rather got colder.

雨没停倒大了。

Yǔ méi tíng dào dà le.

The rain didn't stop, but got heavier.

Practice

Build the sentence

Drag the characters to put them in the correct order

Characters

Words from this rule

倒

dào

To pour, to reverse

雨

yǔ

Rain

没有

méi yǒu

Not have, there is not

停

tíng

To stop, to park

大

dà

Big, large, old (sibling)

起来

qǐlái

To get up

了

le

Particle (completed action or change of state)

天气

tiānqì

Weather

好

hǎo

Good, well

是

shì

To be, yes

冷

lěng

Cold

他

tā

He

Frequently asked questions

How do you say “but actually, contrary to expectation” in Chinese with 倒?

Use the structure: 倒 (dào)⋯⋯. For example: 雨没有停，倒大起来了。 — “The rain didn't stop, but got heavier”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

雨没有停，倒大起来了。 — “The rain didn't stop, but got heavier”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 4.

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More HSK 4 grammar rules

尽管 — although… but…

尽管 (jǐnguǎn)⋯⋯，但是 (dànshì)⋯⋯

却 — however, yet

⋯⋯，却 (què)⋯⋯

全 — whole, entire

全 (quán) + Measure Word + Noun

到 — until (time/place/degree)

Verb + 到 (dào) + Time / Place / Degree

连 + verb — not even

连 (lián) + Verb + 都 (dōu) + 不 (bù) / 没 (méi) + Verb

原来 — it turns out, originally

Subj. + 原来 (yuánlái) + Predicate

得 — must, have to

Subj. + 得 (děi) + Verb Phrase

不管 — no matter

不管 (bùguǎn)⋯⋯，都 (dōu) / 也 (yě)⋯⋯