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HSK 4 Conjunctive Adverb: 却 (què)
却 (què) is an adverb meaning “yet,” “however,” or “contrary to expectation.” In an ordinary clause with a stated subject, it belongs after the subject and within the predicate. Other adverbs or a time phrase can come between 却 and the main verb; it need not stand immediately beside the verb.
他已经工作十年了，却没有存下多少钱。
Both clauses share the subject 他 (he). Because the subject is omitted in the second clause, 却 appears right after the comma before the negated verb 没有.
× 这本书很厚，却小李两天就看完了。
Incorrect: 却 is an adverb and cannot be placed before the subject 小李 (Xiao Li). Replace this word order with the corrected sentence in “这本书很厚，小李却两天就看完了。”.
Corrected example: 这本书很厚，小李却两天就看完了。
Read the full explanation and examples
Core Meaning and Syllabus Role
In the supplied HSK 3.0 syllabus outline (edition 2025-11), 却 (què) is categorized at Level 4 under word classes as a conjunctive adverb (关联副词). Please note that this level designation reflects the reference outline rather than a guarantee about which exam version a specific test center currently administers.
As a conjunctive adverb, 却 bridges two clauses while functioning grammatically inside the predicate. It introduces a fact or action that goes against expectations established in the first clause. In English, it often translates to 'however', 'yet', 'but', or 'instead'. Because it is more compact and slightly more literary than basic spoken conjunctions, it appears frequently in both everyday conversation and written narratives.
Sentence Structure and Word Order
In the ordinary subject–predicate statements practised here, 却 follows a stated subject or topic and precedes the main predicate. It need not immediately follow the subject or touch the main verb: compare 他今天却没来 and 小李却两天就看完了. With 没有人, the negated existential predicate can follow 却, as in the example below.
When both clauses share the exact same subject, the subject of the second clause is normally omitted to avoid repetition. In that case, 却 appears right after the comma—not because it moved to the front of the clause, but because the subject in front of it is invisible. When the two clauses have different subjects, the second subject must be stated first, followed by 却.
他已经工作十年了，却没有存下多少钱。
Both clauses share the subject 他 (he). Because the subject is omitted in the second clause, 却 appears right after the comma before the negated verb 没有.
外面的雨下得很大，房间里却非常安静。
The topic shifts from the rain outside to 房间里 (inside the room). 却 must be placed after the new topic/subject 房间里.
Pairing 却 with Conjunctions
In English, saying 'although... but yet...' feels redundant. In Chinese, however, conjunctive adverbs work together with true conjunctions to reinforce the logical relationship between clauses. You can pair 却 with concessive conjunctions like 虽然 (suīrán, 'although') or 尽管 (jǐnguǎn, 'even though') in the first clause.
Even more notably, 却 can appear in the very same clause as adversative conjunctions like 但是 (dànshì) or 可 (kě). When they appear together, 但是 sits at the very start of the second clause (before the subject), while 却 stays in its mandatory adverbial slot (after the subject). Together, they strengthen the feeling of an unexpected contrast.
虽然这件衣服很便宜，但是质量却非常好。
Here 虽然, 但是, and 却 work together. Notice that 但是 precedes the subject 质量 (quality), while 却 follows it.
尽管大家都很累，却没有人提出休息。
In existential sentences with 没有人 (nobody), 却 stands right before 没有人 because 没有人 functions as the negated existential predicate.
Useful Contrast: 却 vs. 但是
Learners often treat 却 and 但是 as interchangeable translations for 'but'. While their meanings overlap, their grammatical behavior and stylistic nuances differ clearly:
- Position in the examples here: 但是 introduces the contrasting clause, before its subject; 却 belongs inside that clause after the stated subject. They therefore cannot simply be swapped without checking word order.
- Co-occurrence: Because they occupy different grammatical slots, they can be used together in the same clause (但是 + Subject + 却 + Predicate) for added emphasis.
- Punctuation in neutral writing: 但是 can introduce a clause after a pause. Keep 却 within its predicate phrase; do not insert a comma simply because English “however” sometimes takes one. Other words may still intervene between 却 and the main verb.
- Nuance and tone: 但是 can introduce any general contrast, restriction, or change of topic. 却 specifically highlights something contrary to expectation, ironic, or surprising, and it sounds slightly more compact and polished.
Common Learner Mistake
In a neutral statement like the one below, placing 却 before the newly named subject 小李 gives the wrong order. Put 小李 first, then 却.
× 这本书很厚，却小李两天就看完了。
Incorrect: 却 is an adverb and cannot be placed before the subject 小李 (Xiao Li). Replace this word order with the corrected sentence in “这本书很厚，小李却两天就看完了。”.
Corrected example: 这本书很厚，小李却两天就看完了。
这本书很厚，小李却两天就看完了。
Correct replacement for “这本书很厚，却小李两天就看完了。”: The new subject 小李 is placed at the start of the second clause, and 却 follows immediately before the predicate.
Frequently asked questions
Can 却 ever start a new sentence after a period?
Yes. A subject recoverable from context can be omitted even after a full stop, so 却 may appear first in the written sentence. With an explicit subject in the ordinary statements here, keep 却 after that subject. A comma is not compulsory merely because 却 is present.
Is 却 more formal than 可是 or 但是?
Yes, slightly. While 却 is common in everyday speech, it is much more compact than 可是 or 但是 and carries a slightly more literary or written tone. Combining 但是 and 却 in the same clause is natural in both spoken and written Chinese when you want to emphasize an unexpected turn.
Does 却 go before or after negation words like 不 and 没?
In the contrastive negative statements practised here, use Subject + 却 + 不 / 没(有) + Verb, as in 他却没来. 却 presents the negative fact as unexpected. This describes the scope of negation in this construction, not every possible sentence containing both 却 and 不.
