Chinese grammar by topic › Chinese conjunctions: because, although, if

Chinese conjunctions: because, although, if

Chinese often links ideas in pairs: one word in the first half of the sentence and its partner in the second, like 因为…所以 (because… so) and 虽然…但是 (although… but).

The essentials

因为…所以, 虽然…但是, 如果…就: using both words of the pair is normal in Chinese, unlike 'because… so' or 'although… but' in English.
Sequence: 先…再, 一…就 (as soon as), …以后, …的时候.
Conditions: 只要…就 (as long as), 只有…才 (only if), 不管/无论…都 (no matter).
Written Chinese adds 然而, 从而, 即使…也, 尽管, 否则 and more.

Every lesson on this topic

Each lesson has a full explanation, examples in characters and pinyin you can listen to, and exercises with answers.

A2 (the A2 course)

Because, although, if: 因为…所以, 虽然…但是, 如果…就: Chinese often links ideas in pairs: 因为…所以, 虽然…但是, 如果…就. Plus 还是 or 或者 for 'or'.
First, then, as soon as: 先…再, 一…就, 以后, 的时候: 先吃饭，然后去看电影; 我一到家就睡觉了; 下课以后; 吃饭的时候.

B1 (the B1 course)

Adding: 不但…而且, 既…又, 又…又, 一边…一边: Not only… but also (不但…而且/还, 不仅…也), both (既…又, 又…又), and doing two things at once (一边…一边).
只要…就 and 只有…才: as long as, only if: 只要 X 就 Y: X is enough. 只有 X 才 Y: X is the one thing that works.
不管 and 无论: no matter: 不管你去哪儿，我都…: 不管/无论 + an open question, then 都 or 也.
Cause and result: 由于, 因此, 于是, 结果, 既然…就: Beyond 因为…所以: 由于 (due to), 因此 (therefore), 于是 (so then), 结果 (in the end), 既然…就 (since… then).

B2 (the B2 course)

Even if and although: 即使, 哪怕, 就算, 尽管: 即使/哪怕/就算…也 for 'even if', 尽管…还是 for 'although (it's true)'.
More conditions: 要不是, 否则, 不然, 万一, 假如, 除非: If it weren't for, otherwise, in case, suppose, and unless: the conditions beyond 如果.
Written links: 然而, 而, 并且, 从而, 以及, 以便, 甚至: The linking words of written Chinese: however, whereas, and also, thereby, as well as, so that, even.

In the app, these lessons are taught one idea at a time with audio, practised with questions you can answer in characters or pinyin, and brought back for review.

Learn it in the app, free Find your level