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Using 尽管……，但是/可是…… for Contrast
Use 尽管……，但是/可是…… when one fact might lead someone to expect a certain result, but a different result is stated. Learn the two-part structure, compare its linking words, and see how it works in natural statements.
尽管外面下着大雨，但是我们还是按计划出发了。
Correct. The rain sets up an expectation that the trip might be delayed; the second clause gives the contrasting outcome.
Read the full explanation and examples
Meaning: an expected result is blocked
This pattern connects two clauses. The first gives a circumstance that could make a result seem likely; the second says what actually happens, often in a way that contrasts with that expectation. In English, the relationship often resembles “although …, …” or “even though …, ….” The first clause does not have to be negative. What matters is the relationship between the circumstance and the outcome.
尽管外面下着大雨，但是我们还是按计划出发了。
Correct. The rain sets up an expectation that the trip might be delayed; the second clause gives the contrasting outcome.
尽管她最近工作很忙，可是每周都会去看望父母。
Correct. Her busy schedule contrasts with her regular weekly visits.
Forming the two clauses
Put 尽管 before the circumstance clause. Follow it with 但是 or 可是 before the contrasting clause. A comma commonly marks the boundary between the clauses in writing. Each clause can contain a subject, but the pattern also works when a subject is understood from context. Keep the second clause focused on the outcome or fact that answers the expectation set up by the first.
但是 and 可是 can often replace one another here without changing the basic logic; choose one for this contrast rather than stacking both. 但是 is common in writing and speech, while 可是 often sounds more conversational. These are tendencies, not absolute register rules.
Examples in context
Notice that the first clause supplies a circumstance, while the second tells what happened or what remains true despite it. The two linking words are shown in separate examples so you can see that either can introduce this contrast.
尽管这本书有些难懂，但是我已经读完了。
Correct. The difficulty makes completion less expected, but the second clause states that it is finished.
尽管他没有提前买票，可是最后还是买到了。
Correct. Not buying ahead creates an obstacle; the second clause reports the eventual result.
尽管房间不大，但是住两个人还算舒服。
Correct. The limited size contrasts with the room being comfortable for two.
When to use it—and when not to
The pattern works with completed events, habits, descriptions and intended future actions. For example, 尽管明天很忙，但是我还是会来 acknowledges tomorrow’s workload and then states an intention to come anyway; the visit has not happened yet. 尽管 in this use introduces a concession, not a condition like 如果. It is also different from 尽管 meaning “feel free to,” as in 有问题尽管问.
- With rain, the likely expectation might be that a trip is delayed; the second clause can say that the group went anyway.
- With a busy schedule, the likely expectation might be that a visit is difficult; the second clause can describe a regular visit.
- With a difficult book, the likely expectation might be that it remains unfinished; the second clause can state that it was completed.
A sentence that merely lists two different facts does not automatically express this concessive relationship. Before using 尽管, make sure the first fact sets up an expectation that the second clause meaningfully counters. The neighboring outline points include other contrast forms, but this lesson focuses only on 尽管……，但是/可是…….
A practical sentence check
To make your own sentence, first decide on the outcome you want to report. Then name a circumstance that might normally make that outcome less likely, place 尽管 before the circumstance, and introduce the actual outcome with 但是 or 可是. Finally, read the clauses together: if the second clause does not answer an expectation created by the first, revise the relationship or choose a simpler connector.
Frequently asked questions
Do both clauses need to have the same subject?
No. The subjects may be the same or different, and one can be left unstated when context makes it clear. Make sure the connection between the circumstance and the contrasting result remains easy to follow.
Can I use 但是 and 可是 interchangeably?
In this pattern, both can introduce the contrasting second clause and often preserve the same basic meaning. Their tone may differ: 但是 is relatively neutral, while 可是 can sound more conversational or immediate. The difference is a tendency, not an absolute rule.
Should I put a comma after the first clause?
A comma commonly separates the two clauses in writing, as in the examples. Follow the punctuation conventions of the context in which you are writing.
