HSK 6
固然
gùrán
granted
Structure
A 固然 ..., 但是/可是/也 B ...
How it works
"固然" is used to acknowledge a factual premise or a certain point of view before introducing a transition or a contrasting point. It is often used in the first clause of a sentence to mean "it is true that" or "admittedly," typically followed by conjunctions like "但是," "可是," or "也" in the second clause.
Examples
工作固然重要，但是身体健康才是第一位的。
Gōngzuò gùrán zhòngyào, dànshì shēntǐ jiànkāng cái shì dì yī wèi de.
Work is admittedly important, but physical health is the top priority.
这种方法固然有优点，但也存在一些安全隐患。
Zhè zhǒng fāngfǎ gùrán yǒu yōudiǎn, dàn yě cúnzài yīxiē ānquán yǐnhuàn.
Admittedly, this method has advantages, but there are also some hidden safety risks.
价格固然便宜，但质量并不太理想。
Jiàgé gùrán piányí, dàn zhìliàng bìng bù tài lǐxiǎng.
Granted, the price is cheap, but the quality is not very ideal.
Common mistakes
Don't forget the second part of the sentence; using '固然' alone without a transition or supplementary point makes the sentence sound incomplete.
Tip
Think of '固然' as a more formal version of '虽然' (suīrán), used when you want to emphasize that you fully acknowledge the first point before moving to your main argument.
More HSK 6 grammar
See 固然 in real Chinese
Import an article and tap any sentence using it. The explanation comes back about the sentence in front of you, not a textbook example.
Try InputDojo free