尽管……，但/也……
Reach for 尽管...但/也... when you want to grant a real obstacle and then push past it — 'despite X, Y still holds.' It's the slightly more formal, written cousin of 虽然...但是.... Use 但 when the second clause is a counter-statement and 也 when it's an action or attitude that survives the obstacle. Common in news, essays, and any moment where the speaker wants to acknowledge a genuine constraint before delivering the main claim.
Structure
尽管 [REAL OBSTACLE], 但/也 [MAIN POINT STILL HOLDS]
jǐnguǎn... dàn/yě...
How to Think About It
尽管 means 'granted, yes.' The first clause is what you're willing to admit. 但 vs 也 changes the flavor of the comeback: 但 sets up a clean contrast ('but X happened anyway'), while 也 suggests something carries on despite the obstacle ('still X, too'). Use 但 when the second clause is the surprising fact; use 也 when the second clause is a behavior, attitude, or trend that persists. Drop the second word and the concession floats unresolved.
Examples
尽管天气很冷, 但他还是去跑步了。
Jǐnguǎn tiānqì hěn lěng, dàn tā háishì qù pǎobù le.
Although the weather was cold, he still went out for a run.
尽管市场不景气, 这家公司也在持续增长。
Jǐnguǎn shìchǎng bù jǐngqì, zhè jiā gōngsī yě zài chíxù zēngzhǎng.
Despite the sluggish market, this company is also continuing to grow.
尽管失败了很多次, 但她从未放弃。
Jǐnguǎn shībài le hěn duō cì, dàn tā cóngwèi fàngqì.
Although she failed many times, she never gave up.
Common Mistake
Learners confuse 尽管 with 不管 ('no matter') because they look similar and overlap on 'regardless.' But 不管 introduces a hypothetical range of conditions; 尽管 concedes one real, current fact. Mixing them up changes the meaning completely.
不管下大雨, 但比赛照常进行。
尽管下大雨, 但比赛照常进行。
Don't Confuse With
虽然...但是...
虽然 is the everyday spoken version; 尽管 sounds more formal and written. Same logic, different register. In news and essays, pick 尽管.
不管...都...
不管 = 'no matter what' (hypothetical range). 尽管 = 'despite this one real fact.' 不管下不下雨 = whether or not it rains; 尽管下雨 = even though it's raining (it is).
即便...也...
即便 imagines a hypothetical extreme; 尽管 concedes an actual current state. 即便明天下雨 = even if it rains; 尽管今天下雨 = though it's raining today (and it is).
Practice
___ 工作很忙, 但他每天都锻炼。
Show answer
尽管
尽管下着雨, 我们 ___ 出发了。 (use the persistence word)
Show answer
也
Put in order: [尽管 / 但 / 他 / 累 / 完成 / 很 / 了 / 任务]
Show answer
尽管他很累, 但完成了任务。
Translate to Chinese: 'Although the price went up, demand still grew.'
Show answer
尽管价格上涨, 但需求也增长了。
Write a sentence conceding a real obstacle but pushing past it, using 尽管...但....
Show answer
Example answer: 尽管这个项目很有挑战, 但团队还是按时完成了。 (Although the project was challenging, the team still finished on time.)
Hear It in Real Episodes
This pattern appears in 1 Fluentide episode: