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则 (while / whereas — formal contrast)
IntroducedYour saved position stays in this browser. Resuming does not complete the lesson or answer its questions.
North and south
- An essay compares eating habits across China.
- the north北方人爱吃面，the south南方person人whereas则to love爱variant of 吃吃(cooked) rice米饭。 — "Northerners love noodles, whereas southerners love rice."
A …，B whereas则 … = whereas, while (formal contrast)
- whereas则 follows the subject of the second clause and marks a contrast with the first: he他likes喜欢quiet安静，I我whereas则likes喜欢bustle热闹.
- It is written and formal.
he他likes喜欢quiet安静，I我whereas则like喜欢bustle热闹。
Complete (written): “He likes quiet, whereas I like bustle.” 他喜欢安静，我____喜欢热闹。
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Subject + 则 marks the contrast.
Consequence: then
- whereas则 can also mean "then" in a condition: (idiom) (the Analects)…欲速则不达。 — "More haste, less speed."
- if如果…，whereas则… in formal writing: if如果temperature温度to surpass超过one / a一Baidu, Internet portal and…百度，whereas则水会(of a liquid) to boil沸腾.
wanting欲speed速then则not不arriving达。
Build: “More haste, less speed.”
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A fixed saying with 则 = then.
After the subject
- whereas则 follows the subject: the south南方person人whereas则…, not whereas则the south南方person人….
- It is formal; in speech, whereas而 or but但是 / but可是 are more natural.
Which is correct?
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则 follows the subject of the second clause.
whereas则 versus whereas而
- whereas而 starts the contrasting clause: the north北方is cold冷，whereas而the south南方is warm暖和.
- whereas则 sits inside it, after the subject: the north北方is cold冷，the south南方whereas则is warm暖和.
the north北方is cold冷，whereas而the south南方is warm暖和。
而 starts the contrasting clause; 则 follows its subject.
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That is their difference in position.
Recap
- …，B whereas则 … = whereas (formal contrast, after the subject); in conditions, whereas则 = then.
- whereas而 starts the clause; speech uses but但是 / but可是.
Read the full reference: HSK 6 grammar — Conjunctions.
An essay compares eating habits across China. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.