Traditional: 卻
què HSK 4

English Meaning

📚 Example Sentences

我想去,却没钱。
Wǒ xiǎng qù, què méi qián.
I want to go, but I have no money.
他很聪明,却不努力。
Tā hěn cōngmíng, què bù nǔlì.
He is smart, but not hardworking.
天气很热,却不舒服。
Tiānqì hěn rè, què bù shūfu.
The weather is hot, but not comfortable.
他很小,却很勇敢。
Tā hěn xiǎo, què hěn yǒnggǎn.
He is small, but very brave.
天很热,却不闷。
Tiān hěn rè, què bú mèn.
The weather is hot, but not stuffy.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of 却 as 'but' that steps back—notice its right component '卩' resembles a kneeling figure, symbolizing a retreat or contrast. Associate it with phrases like 'I want to go, but...' to remember its role in showing unexpected turns.

📝 Usage Notes

却 is used in both written and spoken Chinese, though it is more common in formal or literary contexts. It typically appears in the middle of a sentence to connect two clauses, placing it after the subject in the second clause. It is often used to express contradictions in narratives, arguments, or descriptions of situations.

📖 Grammar Points

却 is used in contrastive structures, often paired with words like '虽然' (although) in the first clause, as in '虽然他很努力,却失败了' (Although he worked hard, he failed). It always follows the subject in the second clause, never at the beginning of a sentence. It can also be used in parallel structures to emphasize multiple contrasts.

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese, using 却 can convey subtle nuances of regret, surprise, or irony, reflecting a cultural appreciation for indirect expression and contextual meaning. It is common in classical literature and modern writing to highlight moral or situational contradictions.

🔄 Similar Words

却 is similar to '但是' (but) and '可是' (however), but differs in usage: '但是' and '可是' are conjunctions that usually start a clause, while '却' is an adverb that must follow the subject in the second clause. For example, '他聪明,但是懒' (He is smart but lazy) vs. '他聪明,却懒' (He is smart, yet lazy), with '却' adding a stronger sense of unexpected contrast.

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