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Expressing contrariness with 倒 ("dao4")

倒 dào

Grammar
HSK 4

Structure

⋯⋯ ，Subj. + 倒 + (也 / 又) ⋯⋯ Subj. + 倒 ⋯⋯ ，不过 / 但是 / 就是 ⋯⋯

Translations

  • however

Definition

表示与预期相反或转折的语气，有时带有讽刺、强调或意外的意味。

Expresses a tone contrary to expectation or a twist, sometimes with irony, emphasis, or surprise.

Usage

用于表示事实与预期相反，或强调一种对比关系。常放在动词前或句子开头，多用于口语。

Used to indicate that reality contradicts expectation, or to emphasize a contrast. Often placed before verbs or at the beginning of a sentence, commonly in spoken Chinese.

Examples

  • 1 你说你不想去，我倒觉得你应该去。(You say you don't want to go, but I think you should go.)
  • 2 大家都说他是个坏学生，他倒考了第一名。(Everyone said he was a bad student, but he ended up ranking first.)
  • 3 我倒要看看他有什么本事。(I want to see what he's capable of, despite what others say.)
  • 4 你倒提醒我了，我还忘了这件事。(You just reminded me, I had forgotten about this.)
  • 5 这么简单的问题，你倒不会回答？(Such a simple question, and you can't answer?)

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