「雖然…但是」英文只能選一個！Although 和 but 為什麼不能一起用

「雖然…但是」英文只能選一個！although 和 but 不能一起用 | MJ英語 Daily English | 生活英語

明天要用英文做簡報，你在投影片上寫了 “Although our sales went down, but our customers are happier.”——中文「雖然…但是」很順，英文母語者一看卻覺得多了一個字。

英文的 although 和 but 只能二選一：Although our sales went down, our customers are happier. 或 Our sales went down, but our customers are happier.。同樣的規則也適用 because／so。

💡 先搞懂：為什麼中文要成對，英文只要一個

中文的連接詞習慣成對出現：雖然…但是、因為…所以，少了後半句反而聽起來沒講完。英文剛好相反——although 本身就已經帶有「但是」的意思，後面再加 but 就重複了；because 已經表示原因，後面再加 so 也一樣多餘。所以英文是選一個：要嘛放前面（Although…／Because…），要嘛放中間（…, but…／…, so…）。這是台灣學生寫作和簡報最常被紅筆圈出來的錯誤之一，因為中文腦會自動把另一半補上。

台灣人最容易卡的雷：① Although…, but… → 留 although 或留 but；② Because…, so… → 留 because 或留 so；③ Despite it was raining…（despite 後面不接句子）→ Despite the rain…／Even though it was raining…

情境對話 Dialogue

邊聽邊學

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場景：週日下午，台北的咖啡店；Hannah 明天要用英文做業績簡報，請外國朋友 Noah 幫她看投影片，她一句一句念給他聽。

Hannah

Noah, can you check my slides? I have to present in English tomorrow.

Noah，可以幫我看一下投影片嗎？我明天要用英文報告。

Noah

Sure. Read me the first one.

好啊。念第一張給我聽。

Hannah

Although our sales went down, but our customers are happier.

雖然我們的業績下滑，但是客戶更滿意了。（although 和 but 同時出現，英文多了一個）

Noah

Close. Just drop one of them. Although our sales went down, our customers are happier.

很接近了。拿掉其中一個就好：Although our sales went down, our customers are happier.

Hannah

Wait, I can’t use both? In Chinese we always use both.

等等，我不能兩個都用？中文我們都是兩個一起用。

Noah

In English it’s one or the other. Or you could say, our sales went down, but our customers are happier.

英文是二選一。或者你可以說：Our sales went down, but our customers are happier.

Hannah

Okay. Next one. Because the market was slow, so we cut costs.

好。下一張：因為市場不景氣，所以我們削減了成本。（because 和 so 同時出現，一樣多了一個）

Noah

Same thing. Because the market was slow, we cut costs. Or, the market was slow, so we cut costs.

一樣的問題。Because the market was slow, we cut costs. 或者 The market was slow, so we cut costs.

Hannah

So because and so are a pair too. Pick one. Got it.

所以 because 和 so 也是一組，選一個就好。懂了。

Noah

Exactly. Clean sentences, and you’ll sound more confident tomorrow.

沒錯。句子乾淨，你明天聽起來也會更有自信。

🎯 30 秒快速複習

英文連接詞二選一：although 和 but 不同時用，because 和 so 不同時用。要嘛放句首（Although…, … ／ Because…, …），要嘛放中間（…, but … ／ …, so …）。despite 後面接名詞或 -ing（Despite the rain／Despite being tired），要接句子改用 even though。

①二選一＝Although…, ／ …, but…
②也是二選一＝Because…, ／ …, so…
③更強調＝Even though…
④接名詞＝Despite the rain…
⑤口語句尾＝…, though.
⑥簡報版＝Sales went down, but…
⑦別說 Although…, but…
⑧別說 Because…, so…

下次這樣說 Next Time

中文腦最常多加一個字的三種句子，換成這樣才乾淨。

① 雖然…但是

❌ 中文腦會說

Although it’s raining, but we’re going.

照中文成對翻

✅ 該這樣說

Although it’s raining, we’re going.

留 although 就好

為什麼：although 本身已經有「但是」的意思，再加 but 就重複了；也可以只留 but：It’s raining, but we’re going.

② 因為…所以

❌ 中文腦會說

Because I was tired, so I went home.

因為、所以都翻

✅ 該這樣說

I was tired, so I went home.

留 so 就好

為什麼：because 和 so 跟 although、but 一樣二選一；留 because 就寫成 Because I was tired, I went home.

③ 儘管…

❌ 中文腦會說

Despite it was raining, we went.

despite 後面接句子

✅ 該這樣說

Despite the rain, we went.

despite 後面接名詞

為什麼：despite 是介系詞，後面接名詞或 -ing（Despite the rain／Despite being tired）；想接整句話就換成 even though：Even though it was raining, we went.

重點單字 Vocabulary Boost

although/ɔːlˈðoʊ/ conj.

雖然（已經帶有轉折，後面不用 but）。

Although it’s late, I’m not tired.（雖然很晚了，我不累。）

even though/ˈiːvn ðoʊ/ conj.

儘管、雖然（比 although 語氣更強）。

Even though it rained, we went.（儘管下雨，我們還是去了。）

though/ðoʊ/ adv.

（口語，放句尾）不過、可是。

It’s expensive. Worth it, though.（很貴，不過值得。）

despite/dɪˈspaɪt/ prep.

儘管（後面接名詞或 -ing）。

Despite the rain, we had fun.（儘管下雨，我們玩得很開心。）

go down/ɡoʊ daʊn/

（數字）下降、下滑。

Our sales went down.（我們的業績下滑了。）

cut costs/kʌt kɔːsts/

削減成本。

We had to cut costs.（我們必須削減成本。）

slide/slaɪd/ n.

（簡報的）一頁投影片。

Can you check my slides?（可以幫我看投影片嗎？）

drop/drɑːp/ v.

拿掉、刪掉（字、句子）。

Just drop the “but”.（把 but 拿掉就好。）

重點句型 Sentence Patterns

1. 放句首 → Although ＋ 句子, 句子

although 放前面，後半句直接接，不加 but。

例：Although our sales went down, our customers are happier.（雖然業績下滑，客戶更滿意了。）
例：Although it’s late, I’m not tired.（雖然很晚了，我不累。）
例：Although I tried, I couldn’t finish.（雖然我試了，還是沒做完。）
although 子句放前面時，中間記得加逗號。

2. 放中間 → 句子, but 句子

最口語、最常用的寫法，簡報也最清楚。

例：Our sales went down, but our customers are happier.（業績下滑，但客戶更滿意了。）
例：It’s raining, but we’re going.（在下雨，但我們還是要去。）
例：I was nervous, but it went well.（我很緊張，但結果很順利。）
講話時用 but 最自然；寫作想正式一點再用 although。

3. 因為…所以 → Because…, ／ …, so…

跟 although／but 是同一個規則，一樣二選一。

例：Because the market was slow, we cut costs.（因為市場不景氣，我們削減成本。）
例：The market was slow, so we cut costs.（市場不景氣，所以我們削減成本。）
例：I was tired, so I went home early.（我累了，所以提早回家。）
口語多半用 …, so…；because 開頭比較偏書面。

4. 更強調 → Even though ＋ 句子

語氣比 although 強，帶「就算這樣還是」的感覺。

例：Even though it rained, we went hiking.（儘管下雨，我們還是去爬山。）
例：Even though I was tired, I finished the report.（儘管很累，我還是把報告做完了。）
例：Even though it’s expensive, it’s worth it.（儘管很貴，還是值得。）
even though 後面一樣不能再加 but。

5. 口語句尾 → …, though.

前面先講一句，最後補一個 though，像中文的「不過」。

例：It’s raining. We’re still going, though.（在下雨。不過我們還是要去。）
例：It was expensive. Worth it, though.（很貴，不過值得。）
例：Nice slides. A bit long, though.（投影片不錯，不過有點長。）
though 放句尾是很自然的口語，寫正式文件少用。

逐字稿 Transcript

J
Hi, I’m Jason. Here’s something every student in Taiwan was taught: a complete sentence needs both halves. Although comes with but. Because comes with so. Today, for English, we’re breaking that rule.大家好，我是 Jason。台灣每個學生都學過一件事：一個完整的句子要有前後兩半，「雖然」要配「但是」，「因為」要配「所以」。今天我們要打破這條規則，不過只限英文。
M
And I’m Mary. In Chinese, if you say only the first half, it sounds unfinished, like you stopped in the middle. So your brain adds the second half for you. Every time. Even when you’re speaking English.我是 Mary。中文裡只講前半句，聽起來會像話沒講完。所以你的腦袋會自動幫你把後半句補上，每一次都這樣，連講英文也一樣。
J
Let’s go to a café in Taipei on a Sunday. Hannah has to present her sales numbers in English tomorrow. So she asks her friend Noah to check her slides.我們來到週日的台北咖啡店。Hannah 明天要用英文報告業績，所以請朋友 Noah 幫她看投影片（slides）。
M
She reads the first slide out loud: “Although our sales went down, but our customers are happier.” To Hannah, that sounds perfect. But Noah says, “Just drop one of them.”她把第一張念出來：”Although our sales went down, but our customers are happier.”（雖然業績下滑，但是客戶更滿意了。）Hannah 覺得完美無缺，可是 Noah 說：”Just drop one of them.”（拿掉其中一個就好。）
J
Hannah is confused. She says, “In Chinese we always use both.” And Noah answers, “In English it’s one or the other.” That’s the whole lesson, really. One or the other.Hannah 一頭霧水，她說：”In Chinese we always use both.”（中文我們都兩個一起用。）Noah 回答：”In English it’s one or the other.”（英文是二選一。）整集重點其實就這句，二選一。
M
Why? Because although already carries the meaning of but. It’s built right in. So when you add but, you’re saying the same thing twice. Like saying hello hello to someone.為什麼？因為 although 本身就已經有「但是」的意思了，等於內建的。所以你再加 but，就是同一件事講了兩次，像是跟人說兩次你好。
J
So you have two fixes. One: “Although our sales went down, our customers are happier.” Two: “Our sales went down, but our customers are happier.” Same meaning. Just pick one.所以有兩種改法。第一種：”Although our sales went down, our customers are happier.” 第二種：”Our sales went down, but our customers are happier.” 意思一樣，選一個就好。
M
Small tip. When although starts the sentence, put a comma after the first part. Then go straight into the second part. No extra linking word in between. Easy.一個小提醒：although 放在句首的時候，前半句後面要加逗號，然後直接接後半句，中間不用再加別的連接詞。很簡單。
J
Next slide. Hannah reads, “Because the market was slow, so we cut costs.” Noah just says, “Same thing.” Because already gives the reason. So the word so is extra.下一張。Hannah 念：”Because the market was slow, so we cut costs.”（因為市場不景氣，所以我們削減成本。）Noah 只說：”Same thing.”（一樣的問題。）because 已經給了原因，所以 so 就多餘了。
M
Again, two fixes. “Because the market was slow, we cut costs.” Or “The market was slow, so we cut costs.” Then Hannah says, “So because and so are a pair too. Pick one.” Exactly, Hannah.一樣有兩種改法。”Because the market was slow, we cut costs.” 或是 “The market was slow, so we cut costs.” 然後 Hannah 說：”So because and so are a pair too. Pick one.”（所以 because 和 so 也是一組，選一個。）對，就是這樣。
J
Which one should you use? When you’re talking, the middle ones win. Just but, just so. Starting with although or because feels more like writing. In a talk, I’d say, “Sales went down, but customers are happier.”那該選哪一個？講話的時候，放在中間的最自然，也就是只用 but、只用 so。開頭用 although 或 because 比較像書面。報告時我會說：”Sales went down, but customers are happier.”（業績下滑，但客戶更滿意了。）
M
Now, want something stronger? Use even though. “Even though it rained, we went hiking.” Think of it as although with the volume turned up. And still, no but after it. And honestly, this is one of the most common things teachers circle in red pen in Taiwan. It’s not a big mistake. It’s just your Chinese brain being helpful. Helpful, but a little too helpful.想要語氣更強一點？用 even though。”Even though it rained, we went hiking.”（儘管下雨，我們還是去爬山。）你可以把它想成音量調大的 although。後面一樣不能加 but。老實說，這是台灣老師最常用紅筆圈起來的錯誤之一。不是什麼大錯，只是你的中文腦太貼心了，貼心過頭。
J
Think about school writing, or an email to your boss. You write a nice long sentence, and it starts with although. Stop at the comma. Ask yourself, do I really need another linking word? No. You’re done. Okay, trap number three. Despite. It means about the same thing, but it has a catch. After despite, you need a noun. A thing. Like the rain.想想學校作文，或是寫給主管的 email。你寫了一個很長的句子，開頭是 although。寫到逗號就停下來問自己：我真的還需要另一個連接詞嗎？不用，句子已經完整了。好，第三個陷阱：despite。意思差不多，可是有個眉角：despite 後面要接名詞，也就是一個東西，像是「雨」。
M
So we say, “Despite the rain, we went.” That’s good. But “Despite it was raining” is wrong, because it was raining is a whole sentence. Despite doesn’t take a whole sentence.所以要說 “Despite the rain, we went.”（儘管下雨，我們還是去了。）這樣是對的。但是 “Despite it was raining” 就錯了，因為 it was raining 是一整句話，despite 後面不能接整句。
J
Want to keep the whole sentence? Easy. Switch to even though. “Even though it was raining, we went.” Fixed. So the rule is simple: whole sentence, even though. Just a noun, despite.想保留整句話嗎？很簡單，換成 even though 就好。”Even though it was raining, we went.” 搞定。規則很簡單：接整句用 even though，只接名詞用 despite。
M
One more, and this one’s casual. Put though at the very end of a sentence. “It was expensive. Worth it, though.” It does the same job as the Chinese word for however.再教一個很口語的：把 though 放在句尾。”It was expensive. Worth it, though.”（很貴，不過值得。）它的作用跟中文的「不過」差不多。
J
I like that one. “Nice slides. A bit long, though.” It sounds soft and friendly. You’re saying something good first, then adding a small twist at the end.我很喜歡這個。”Nice slides. A bit long, though.”（投影片不錯，不過有點長。）聽起來很柔和、很親切，先講好的，最後再輕輕補一個小轉折。
M
Quick vocab check. If your sales go down, the numbers get smaller. And when you cut costs, you spend less money. Both are great for work presentations here in Taiwan.快速複習單字。如果業績 go down，就是數字變小；cut costs 就是花得更少、削減成本。這兩個在台灣的工作簡報裡都很好用。
J
And remember, a slide is one page of a presentation. When Noah says drop one of them, he means take that word out. Delete it. Less is more.還有，slide 就是簡報的一頁。Noah 說 drop one of them，意思是把那個字拿掉、刪掉。少一點反而更好。
M
Here’s a trick for emails and school writing too. Write your Chinese sentence in your head first. Then notice the second half, the but or the so. And delete it before you write the English. Try it with me. Take a Chinese sentence you know, like the one about the weather and your plans. Say the English with only one half of the pair. Slowly. It feels strange at first, but it gets easy fast.這招寫 email 和學校作文也適用。先在腦中想好中文句子，然後注意到後半句的那個「但是」或「所以」，寫英文之前先把它刪掉。跟我一起試試看。拿一句你熟悉的中文，像是天氣和計畫的那種，英文只用成對的其中一半，慢慢說。一開始會覺得怪，但很快就會習慣。
J
Hannah did it, too. By the last slide, she stopped adding the extra word. Noah said, “Clean sentences, and you’ll sound more confident tomorrow.” And she did. Let’s practice. Say this: “Even though I was tired, I finished the report.” Notice, no but. Just the first half, a comma, and then the second half. Clean.Hannah 也是這樣。到最後一張，她就不再多加那個字了。Noah 說：”Clean sentences, and you’ll sound more confident tomorrow.”（句子乾淨，你明天聽起來也會更有自信。）後來她真的做到了。我們來練習。請跟著說：”Even though I was tired, I finished the report.”（儘管很累，我還是把報告做完了。）注意，沒有 but，前半句、逗號、後半句，乾乾淨淨。
M
Last check, the three traps. One: although with but. Two: because with so. Three: despite with a whole sentence. Spot them, fix them, and your slides will look sharp.最後檢查一次三個陷阱。一，although 加 but；二，because 加 so；三，despite 後面接整句。看到就改，你的投影片就會很俐落。
J
Okay, now let’s hear the whole conversation again. This time, listen for the second half that never shows up. It’s the quiet part that makes it sound right.好，我們再把整段對話聽一遍。這次請注意那個沒有出現的後半句，少了它，句子才對味。
🔁 [DIALOGUE REPLAY] 重播情境對話
M
So the takeaway: pick one. Although or but. Because or so. And after despite, use a noun.重點就是：選一個。although 或 but，because 或 so；despite 後面接名詞。
J
Now comment one of your although-but sentences in Chinese, and we’ll turn it into English for you. Short episode, but a useful one. This was MJ English.現在就留言一句你常用的「雖然…但是」中文句子，我們幫你改成英文。這集很短，但很實用。這裡是 MJ English。
M
Mary here. See you soon.我是 Mary。下次見。

延伸學習 Keep Going

台灣人最常犯的文法錯誤，還有這幾集。

英文別再說 he go！台灣人最常漏掉的英文 -s另一個中文腦造成的文法坑→ 台灣人最常犯的英文錯誤：不可數名詞別加 s！寫簡報時也很常出錯→ 老外最受不了的台灣人英文 Top 5：5 個你每天都在說的錯誤一次看完最常見的五個→

你寫英文時有沒有不小心寫過 although…but？留言一句你常用的「雖然…但是」，我們幫你改成英文！

留言你最常被紅筆圈的文法錯誤，我們排進下一集。

追蹤 MJ英語 podcast，下次見。

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