Learn Chinese Grammar - Part 2: 但是(dànshì=but) vs. 可是(kěshì=but) vs. 不过(bùguò= but):

If the following clause has a subject, 但是/不过must precede the subject, while 可是may precede or follow it.

Example:

I want to go to Poland but I don't have any money.

1.  我(wǒ=I)想(xiǎng=to want)去(qù=to go)波兰(Bōlán=Poland),可是(kěshì=but) 我(wǒ=I)没有(méiyǒu=have no)钱(qián=money)。(可是may precede the subject)

2.  我(wǒ=I)想(xiǎng=to want)去(qù=to go)波兰(Bōlán=Poland), 我(wǒ=I)可是(kěshì=but)没有(méiyǒu=have no)钱(qián=money)。(可是may follow the subject)

3.  我(wǒ=I)想(xiǎng=to want)去(qù=to go)波兰(Bōlán=Poland), 但是(dànshì=but)我(wǒ=I)没有(méiyǒu=have no)钱(qián=money)。(但是must precede the subject)

4.  我(wǒ=I)想(xiǎng=to want)去(qù=to go)波兰(Bōlán=Poland), 我(wǒ=I) 但是(dànshì=but)没有(méiyǒu=have no)钱(qián=money)。 (Wrong: 但是must not follow the subject)

5.  我(wǒ=I)想(xiǎng=to want)去(qù=to go)波兰(Bōlán=Poland), 不过(bùguò= but)我(wǒ=I)没有(méiyǒu=have no)钱(qián=money)。(不过must precede the subject)

6.  我(wǒ=I)想(xiǎng=to want)去(qù=to go)波兰(Bōlán=Poland), 我(wǒ=I) 不过(bùguò= but)没有(méiyǒu=have no)钱(qián=money)。(Wrong: 不过must not follow the subject)

Learn Chinese Grammar: 但是(dànshì=but) vs. 可是(kěshì=but) vs. 不过(bùguò= but):

不过 is more informal and mostly used in spoken Chinese. 不过has a softest intensity of tone (compared with 但是 and 可是). 不过 is often associated with the positive result. It includes, is used to say 'no' or 'negative thing' in a softer way (to avoid hurt someone's feelings) so it sounds 'positive.' (Here it also depends on personal preference).

Examples:

The house is new, but it's very dirty.

a.房子(fángzi=house)很(hěn=very)新(xīn=new)，但是(dànshì=but)很(hěn=very)脏(zāng=dirty) 。

b.房子(fángzi=house)很(hěn=very)新(xīn=new)，可是(kěshì=but)很(hěn=very)脏(zāng=dirty) 。(More used for negative result)

c. 房子(fángzi=house)很(hěn=very)新(xīn=new)，不过(bù​guò)很(hěn=very)脏(zāng=dirty) 。(Make negative result sounds 'positive')

Learn Chinese Grammar: 但是(dànshì=but) vs. 可是(kěshì=but) :

Learn Chinese Grammar: 但是(dànshì=but) vs. 可是(kěshì=but) :

但是is more formal, it can be used in colloquial but more often used in news or written language. 但是 has a strongest intensity of tone (tends to give more emphasis to the second clause). 可是 is usually used in spoken Chinese and has a less strong intensity of tone than 但是. 可是 is often associated with negative result (here it also depends on personal preference).

Examples:

The house is new, but it's very dirty.

a.房子(fángzi=house)很(hěn=very)新(xīn=new)，但是(dànshì=but)很(hěn=very)脏(zāng=dirty) 。

b.房子(fángzi=house)很(hěn=very)新(xīn=new)，可是(kěshì=but)很(hěn=very)脏(zāng=dirty) 。(More used for negative result)

Learn Chinese Grammar: 抓(zhuā=to grab) and 捉(zhuō=to grab):

Learn Chinese Grammar: 抓(zhuā=to grab) and 捉(zhuō=to grab):

抓 is grabbed by hand or claw whereas捉 is grabbed by hand and foot.

Example:

The cat grabs the mouse.

1. 猫(māo=cat)抓(zhuā=to grab)老鼠(lǎo​shǔ=mouse)。(By hand or claw)

2. 猫(māo=cat)捉(zhuō=to grab)老鼠(lǎo​shǔ=mouse)。(By hand and foot)

Learn Chinese Grammar: 蹦(bèng=to jump) and跳(tiào=to jump):

Learn Chinese Grammar: 蹦(bèng=to jump) and跳(tiào=to jump):

蹦 means "jump on both feet".

跳means "jump upwards or forwards on both feet".

Examples:

I jump to the stage.

1.我(wǒ=I)蹦(bèng=to jump)到(dào=to)台上(tái​shàng=on stage)。(Jump on both feet)

2. 我(wǒ=I)跳(tiào=to jump)到(dào=to)台上tái​shàng=on stage)。(Jump upwards on both feet)

Learn Chinese Grammar:尽管(jǐnguǎn=even though) vs. 虽然(suīrán =even though) :

When it means "even though", 尽管(jǐn​guǎn) is stronger in meaning and tone than 虽然(suīrán). 尽管 indicates that in spite of a certain fact, it makes no difference with the prior situation, 尽管and 还是 should be used together. 虽然 may or may not have this implication.

Example 1:

Even though my body is abroad, but my heart is still at home.

a. 尽管(jǐn​guǎn =even though)我人(wǒ​rén= my body)在(zài=at)国外(​guó​wài=abroad)，但(dàn=but)我(wǒ=I)心(xīn=heart)还是(hái​shi=still)在(zài=at)家(jiā​=home)的(de)。(stronger than 虽然)

b. 虽然(suīrán=even though) 我人(wǒrén= my body)在(zài=at)国外(​guó​wài=abroad)，但(dàn=but)我(wǒ=I)心(xīn=heart)还是(hái​shi=still)在(zài=at)家(jiā​=home)的(de)。

Example 2:

Even though I am abroad, but I never get homesick.

a. 虽然(suīrán=even though)我(wǒ = I)在(zài=at)国外(​guó​wài=abroad)，但(dàn=but)我(wǒ=I)从来不(cóng​lái​bù=never)想家(xiǎng​jiā=homesick)。

b. 尽管(jǐn​guǎn=even though)我(wǒ​= I)在(zài=at)国外(​guó​wài=abroad)，但(dàn=but)我(wǒ=I)从来不(cóng​lái​bù=never)想家(xiǎng​jiā=homesick)。- Wrong Sentence (The sentence should contains the "still" meaning - because 尽管and 还是 should be used together).

 

Learn Chinese Grammar:管理(guǎnlǐ=to manage) vs. 经营(jīngyíng=to manage):

管理(guǎnlǐ=to manage) Responsible for a certain job to make it work smoothly.

经营(jīngyíng= to manage): Plan, prepare and manage the company.

Example:

How will the company manage it?

1. 公司(gōng​sī=company)怎么(zěn​me=how)管理(guǎn​lǐ=to manage)？(Responsible for a certain job to make it work smoothly)

2. 公司(gōng​sī=company)怎么(zěn​me=how)经营(jīngyíng= to manage)？(Plan, prepare and manage the company)

Learn Chinese Grammar: 总是(zǒngshì=always) and 老是(lǎoshì=always)

总是(zǒngshì =always) is used for normal things.

老是(lǎoshì=always) is used for negative or dislike things.

Example:

He always got up at 11AM o'clock.

1. 他(tā=he)总是(zǒngshì =always) 11(shí​yī)点(diǎn=o'clock)起床(qǐchuáng=to get up)。(The speaker thinks that it is a normal thing)

2. 他(tā=he)老是(lǎoshì =always)11(shí​yī)点(diǎn=o'clock)起床(qǐchuáng=to get up)。(The speaker thinks that it is a negative thing)