Although, not only, as long as, either or, first and then, and the paired frames that hold a sentence together.
Practise this list
From these 40 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
Chinese likes to mark both halves of a linked sentence: 虽然…但是, 只要…就, 只有…才. Where English needs one word, “although” or “as long as”, Chinese often wants the pair — and when the second word is an adverb such as 就 or 才, it stands after the subject of its clause, not before it. Several frames here, like 越…越, have no English conjunction at all.
The words
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Conjunction (37)
虽然althoughConjunction3
虽然这家店有点儿远，但是东西很便宜。Although this shop is a bit far away, things there are cheap.
Paired with 但是 or 可是; English marks only one half.
而且and also; moreoverConjunction3
他会做饭，而且做得很好。He can cook, and what is more he cooks very well.
不但not onlyConjunction3
这件衣服不但贵，而且质量也不好。This garment is not only expensive but also poorly made.
Followed by 而且 or 也: “not only … but also”.
不仅not onlyConjunction3
这种水果不仅好吃，而且很便宜。This fruit is not only tasty but also cheap.
A little more written than 不但.
只要as long as; provided thatConjunction3
只要你每天练习，就一定能学会。As long as you practise every day, you are sure to learn it.
With 就: a condition that is enough.
只有only if; onlyConjunction3
只有他同意，我们才能开始。Only if he agrees can we begin.
With 才: the one condition that works.
然后then; after thatConjunction3
我们先去吃饭，然后去看电影。We will eat first and then go and see a film.
另外in addition; besides; otherConjunction3
我买了面包，另外还买了一些水果。I bought bread, and some fruit as well.
或者orConjunction3
你可以坐地铁或者打车去。You can go by underground or by taxi.
In statements; in a question offering a choice, “or” is 还是.
或orConjunction3
请用中文或英文填表。Please fill in the form in Chinese or English.
The written short form of 或者.
不过but; however; onlyConjunction3
这套房子很漂亮，不过房租有点儿贵。This flat is lovely, though the rent is a bit high.
Softer than 但是.
于是so; thereuponConjunction3
他等了很久也没等到车，于是走路回家了。He waited a long time and no bus came, so he walked home.
Tells what happened next; not used for plans or requests.
而and; but; whereasConjunction3
这个房间小而安静。This room is small but quiet.
Written; links two adjectives, or sets two things against each other.
假如if; supposingConjunction3
假如你有一百万，你会做什么？If you had a million, what would you do?
For an imagined case; everyday “if” is 如果.
万一in case; if by any chanceConjunction3
带把雨伞吧，万一下雨呢？Take an umbrella, in case it rains.
For something unlikely and unwelcome.
就算even ifConjunction3
就算明天下雨，我们也要去。Even if it rains tomorrow, we are still going.
Spoken; the second half takes 也.
首先first of all; firstlyConjunction3
首先，我想谢谢大家今天来这儿。First of all, I would like to thank everyone for coming here today.
其次secondly; nextConjunction3
买房子最重要的是位置，其次是价格。When buying a flat, location matters most, and price comes next.
接着next; then; following thatConjunction3
她先洗了澡，接着又洗了衣服。She had a shower first, and then did the washing.
总之in short; in a wordConjunction3
房子小，离公司也远，总之我不太满意。The flat is small and far from work; in short, I am not very happy with it.
那么then; in that caseConjunction3
如果你不喜欢吃辣的，那么我们换一家饭馆吧。If you do not like spicy food, then let’s try another restaurant.
Also “so, that”: 那么贵, “that expensive”.
要不how about; otherwiseConjunction3
今天太晚了，要不你就住在这儿吧。It is too late today — how about you stay here?
Spoken; also 要不然.
不如would be better to; not as good asConjunction3
坐公交车太慢了，不如骑自行车去。The bus is too slow; we would be better off cycling.
Also in comparisons: 我不如他, “I am not as good as him”.
不光not only; not justConjunction3
不光孩子喜欢这个公园，大人也喜欢。It is not just children who like this park; adults do too.
Spoken; the same as 不但.
加上on top of that; added to whichConjunction3
今天下雨，加上是周一，路上特别堵。It is raining today, and on top of that it is Monday, so the roads are especially jammed.
只是it is just that; onlyConjunction3
这件大衣很好看，只是颜色深了点儿。This coat looks good; it is just that the colour is a bit dark.
一…就as soon asConjunction3
我一到家就给你打电话。I will ring you as soon as I get home.
The tone of 一 follows the verb after it: 一到, 一听.
既…又both … andConjunction3
她既是我的老师，又是我的朋友。She is both my teacher and my friend.
又…又both … and (two qualities)Conjunction3
我又累又饿，只想回家。I am tired and hungry and just want to go home.
The two qualities lean the same way: both good or both bad.
越…越the more … the moreConjunction3
雨越下越大。The rain is getting heavier and heavier.
不是…而是not … but ratherConjunction3
我不是不想去，而是没有时间。It is not that I do not want to go; it is that I have no time.
不是…就是either … orConjunction3
他周末不是睡觉就是玩游戏。At weekends he is either asleep or playing games.
先…再first … thenConjunction3
你先把作业写完再看电视。Finish your homework first, then watch TV.
连…都evenConjunction3
他忙得连饭都没时间吃。He is so busy he does not even have time to eat.
Also 连…也; the thing that is surprising goes between.
一方面…另一方面on the one hand … on the otherConjunction3
我学中文一方面是为了工作，另一方面是因为喜欢中国文化。I am learning Chinese partly for work and partly because I like Chinese culture.
再说besides; what is moreConjunction3
今天别出去了，外面太冷，再说你还有点儿感冒。Don’t go out today, it is too cold — and besides, you still have a bit of a cold.
At the end of a sentence it means “let’s deal with it later”: 明天再说吧.
要么…要么either … orConjunction3
要么今天去，要么明天去，你自己选。Either we go today or we go tomorrow — you choose.
Offers a choice; 不是…就是 describes what is the case.
Phrase (3)
总的来说all in all; on the wholePhrase3
总的来说，这次旅行还是很愉快的。All in all, the trip was a pleasant one.
就是说that is to say; which meansPhrase3
张经理下个月离开公司，就是说我们需要一个新经理。Manager Zhang is leaving the company next month, which means we need a new manager.
换句话说in other wordsPhrase3
他没说不行，换句话说，他同意了。He did not say no; in other words, he agreed.
