Conjunctions (连词)

Input Date:07/12/2006 Read: [Print] [Close]

1. What is a conjunction?
 
　　A conjunction is used for connecting words, phrases or sentences, expressing a certain logic relationship, as in English, e.g.
 
 
和(and)　　同(with)　　 而(while)　　或/或者(or)　　不但(not only)　　而且(but also)
虽/虽然(though)　　但/但是(but)　　然而(yet)　　因/因为(because)　　所以(therefore) 
如/如果(if)　　只有(only if)　　只要(so long as)　　为了(in order to) 
 
 
2. What is noteworthy about Chinese conjunctions?
 
 
2.1. Paired conjunctions
 
　　Unlike in English, there are some paired conjunctions that are distributed in different clauses of some complex sentences, e.g.
 
　　因为家里有事，所以她没有来。(She hasn’t come because she’s got something else to do at home.)
　　他虽然很穷，但很快活。(He is poor, but he is happy)
 
 
　　Sometimes, we can omit any of the separated one in the paired conjunction structure, e.g.
 
 
　　家里有事，所以她没有来。--- without “因为”
　　因为家里有事，她没有来。--- without “所以”
　　他很穷，但很快活。--- without “虽然”
　　虽然很穷，他很快活。--- without “但” 
 
2.2. Parataxis 
 
　　In Chinese, conjunctions are not so often used as in English. Ordinarily, if a connective meaning between words, phrases or clauses is clear without saying, Chinese people tend not to use any conjunction, especially in colloquial language, e.g.
 
　　东南西北(north, south, east and west) --- not as 东南西和北
　　甲乙丙丁(A, B, C and D) --- not as 甲乙丙和丁
　　钢铁公司(iron & steel co.) --- not as 钢和铁公司
　　大街小巷(streets and lanes) --- not as 大街和小巷
　　你是我的良师益友。(You are a good teacher and friend for me.) --- better than 你是我的良师和益友
　　她爱唱歌跳舞。(She likes singing and dancing.) --- better than 她爱唱歌和跳舞
　　她走了，我没走。(She left, but I remained.) --- better than 她走了，但我没走
　　他病了，今天没来。(He is absent today, because he is ill.) --- better than 因为他病了，所以今天没来
　　汉语不用就容易忘。(If you don't use your Chinese you'll forget it.) --- better than 如果汉语不用就容易忘
　　他从未去过中国，到中国去是他的梦想。(He has never been to China; however, it has always been his dream.) --- better than 他从未去过中国，然而到中国去是他的梦想

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