HSK 6
连接分句或句子：不料、可、若
lián jiē fēn jù huò jù zi ： bú liào 、 kě 、 ruò
Connecting clauses/sentences: 不料、可、若
Explanation
The three words 不料 (bù liào), 可 (kě), and 若 (ruò) are all conjunctions (words that link clauses), used to connect clauses or sentences, each expressing a different relationship.
expected matter + 不料 (bù liào) + an unexpected contrary matter → "unexpectedly"; first clause + 可 (kě) + contrasting clause → "but"; 若 (ruò) + condition + 就 (jiù) + result → "if... then...".
不料 is used when the result turns out completely contrary to the original expectation. 可 is used to shift to an opposite idea, softer than 但是 (dàn shì). 若 means "if," and is the written form of 如果 (rú guǒ).
可 (kě, but) is colloquial and softer than 但是; 若 (ruò, if) is more formal than 如果 (rú guǒ); 不料 (bù liào) always carries a nuance of surprise and cannot replace 可 or 若.
Vietnamese learners often use 不料 for something that was expected (wrong, because 不料 is only used when the result is unexpected). They also often forget 就 (jiù) in the result clause after 若, and misplace 可 in the middle of the sentence instead of at the start of the second clause.
Examples
I originally intended to go play soccer on the field today, but unexpectedly it started to rain outside.
We agreed to go visit the Great Wall together, but he forgot.
If this time is not convenient for you, then we'll switch to another one.
Practice
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Learn “连接分句或句子：不料、可、若” effectively
The grammar point “连接分句或句子：不料、可、若” (Connecting clauses/sentences: 不料、可、若) is one of the key structures at HSK 6. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
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