Chinese Conjunctions: Connectors That Come in Pairs
English picks one linking word — “because”, “although”, “not only”. Chinese often uses two, one in each clause: 因为…所以, 虽然…但是, 不但…而且. Learn these paired connectors and your Mandarin starts to flow like real sentences, not lists. Audio on every example.
- The chinese conjunctions that come in pairs
- 不但…而且 (búdàn…érqiě) — not only… but also
- 因为…所以 (yīnwèi…suǒyǐ) — because… so
- 虽然…但是 (suīrán…dànshì) — although… but
- More pairs worth knowing
- Everyday sentences
- The trap: keep both halves
- Three rules that make chinese conjunctions click
- Five common mistakes, fixed
- Quick check — chinese conjunctions
- FAQs
Why does Chinese use two linking words where English uses one? Because Chinese marks both halves of the sentence. Where English says “because it rained, we stayed in”, Chinese signposts each clause: 因为 (“because”) and 所以 (“so”). The big three chinese conjunctions all work this way — 不但…而且 (“not only… but also”), 因为…所以 (“because… so”) and 虽然…但是 (“although… but”). Learn each as a pair and your sentences instantly sound more native.
The chinese conjunctions cheat sheet
The chinese conjunctions that come in pairs
The single most useful thing to know about chinese conjunctions is that they usually arrive in matched pairs — one signpost in the first clause, a partner in the second. English drops one of them (“although it’s late”, never “although… but”), so the instinct to use just one is the main thing to unlearn. Keep both halves and your Mandarin sounds complete.
不但…而且 (búdàn…érqiě) — not only… but also
不但…而且 adds and escalates — a second point on top of the first, usually a stronger one. 这家店不但好吃，而且便宜 (“this place is not only delicious but also cheap”). When both clauses share a subject, 不但 follows it (他不但…); when the subjects differ, 不但 leads the sentence. Useful swaps: 不但 can become 不仅 (bùjǐn), and 而且 can become 还 (hái) or 也 (yě).
因为…所以 (yīnwèi…suǒyǐ) — because… so
This is the first surprise for English speakers: Chinese happily uses both halves — 因为 (“because”) in the first clause and 所以 (“so / therefore”) in the second. 因为下雨，所以我们没去 (“because it rained, we didn’t go”). In English you’d choose one; in Chinese the pair is natural and standard. You can drop one half in casual speech, but the full 因为…所以 is always correct — and cause always comes before effect.
虽然…但是 (suīrán…dànshì) — although… but
Same pattern, same surprise: 虽然 (“although”) pairs with 但是 (“but”) — both halves, even though English forbids “although… but” together. 虽然很贵，但是质量好 (“although it’s expensive, the quality is good”). The second clause turns against the first, and 但是 can soften to 但 or 可是. It’s the pairing that makes the sentence sound native rather than translated.
More pairs worth knowing
Once the idea clicks, a whole family of chinese conjunctions opens up — each a signpost in both clauses: 如果…就 (rúguǒ…jiù, “if… then”), 只要…就 (zhǐyào…jiù, “as long as… then”), 即使…也 (jíshǐ…yě, “even if… still”) and 一边…一边 (yìbiān…yìbiān, “doing one thing while another”). They all guide the listener the same way: a marker up front, a partner to land it.
Everyday sentences
Six chinese conjunctions sentences you’ll use constantly. The Chinese Grammar Wiki covers the full family. Tap 🔊 to hear each.
The trap: keep both halves
The single biggest slip English speakers make with chinese conjunctions is dropping one half, because English only allows one connector. You’d never say “although it’s expensive, but it’s good” in English — yet that doubled form is exactly right in Chinese: 虽然…但是. Leaving out the 所以 or the 但是 can sound unfinished to a native ear. The fix is simple: store each connector as a pair, and say both signposts.
Three rules that make chinese conjunctions click
1. They come in pairs. One signpost per clause — 因为…所以, 虽然…但是, 不但…而且.
2. Keep both halves. Unlike English, Chinese keeps “because… so” and “although… but” together.
3. Match the right partners. 不但 takes 而且 (or 还/也); 因为 takes 所以; 虽然 takes 但是.
Five common mistakes, fixed
| ✗ The error | ✓ The fix | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 虽然很贵，质量好 (no second half) | 虽然很贵，但是质量好 | 虽然 needs its partner 但是 to sound complete |
| 因为下雨，但是没去 | 因为下雨，所以没去 | 因为 pairs with 所以 (cause→effect), not 但是 |
| 他不但会说中文，会写汉字 (no follow-up) | 他不但会说中文，而且会写汉字 | 不但 needs a follow-up: 而且, 还 or 也 |
| 这家店不但便宜，但是好吃 | 这家店不但便宜，而且好吃 | 不但 pairs with 而且 (adding), not 但是 (contrast) |
| 所以下雨了，因为没去 (reversed) | 因为下雨了，所以没去 | Cause (因为) comes first, effect (所以) second |
Quick check — chinese conjunctions
Pick the best answer for each:
“Not only… but also” is:
“Because… so” (cause and effect) is:
“Although… but” (concession) is:
Unlike English, Chinese connectors usually:
不但 should be followed by: