Level 2 · Elementary
Although: 虽然…但是…
虽然 A，但是 B · Traditional: 雖然 A，但是 B
"Although" sentences also come as a pair: 虽然 opens the concession, 但是 (or 可是) opens the contrast: 虽然很贵，但是我很喜欢 "although it's expensive, I really like it".
English uses only one connector ("although A, B") — Chinese wants both. Leaving out 但是 sounds broken.
Examples
虽然很贵，但是我很喜欢。
雖然很貴，但是我很喜歡。
suī rán hěn guì dàn shì wǒ hěn xǐ huan
Although it's expensive, I really like it.
虽然他很忙，但是每天都运动。
雖然他很忙，但是每天都運動。
suī rán tā hěn máng dàn shì měi tiān dōu yùn dòng
Although he's busy, he exercises every day.
虽然下雨了，但是我们还是去了。
雖然下雨了，但是我們還是去了。
suī rán xià yǔ le dàn shì wǒ men hái shi qù le
Although it rained, we still went.
虽然我认识他，但是我们不是好朋友。
雖然我認識他，但是我們不是好朋友。
suī rán wǒ rèn shi tā dàn shì wǒ men bù shì hǎo péng you
Although I know him, we're not close friends.
Common mistakes
✗ 虽然很贵，我很喜欢。
✓ 虽然很贵，但是我很喜欢。
虽然 needs its partner 但是/可是 in the second half.
Related grammar points
Practice this pattern in graded stories like A Happy Ride Home (Part 4), Afternoon Rush (Part 3), The End of the Day (Part 6) inside the Literate Chinese app.
