「雖然很累，但還是去了」，你會怎麼翻成英文？很多人直覺寫成 “Although I was tired, but I still went.” 但這樣是文法錯誤，although 和 but 不能同時出現在一句話裡。這篇把 although、though、but，加上 despite 用法和 in spite of，一次整理清楚，搞懂哪個後面接什麼，你就不會再寫錯了。
Although 和 though 其實不一樣
Although 和 though 都是「雖然」的意思，語意上非常接近，很多時候可以互換。兩者都能放在句子前半，引導一個帶有轉折關係的子句。但在使用習慣上，它們有幾個地方值得注意。
Although 比 though 正式一點，書面和口語都常見，在學術寫作或正式文件裡出現的頻率比 though 高。Though 則比較口語，日常對話用得更多，語氣也更輕鬆。
Although 用法和 though 用法有個很重要的結構差異：though 可以放在句尾，表示「不過、雖然如此」的意思，這時候不能換成 although。
(1)
A: The weather was terrible on your vacation, right?
A: 你假期的天氣很差對吧？
B: Although it rained the whole time, we still had an amazing time.
B: 雖然一直在下雨，我們還是玩得很開心。
(2)
A: Did you end up finishing the project?
A: 你後來有完成那個專案嗎？
B: Though I was exhausted, I stayed up to finish it. Glad I did.
B: 雖然很累，我還是熬夜把它完成了。還好有做完。
(3)
The presentation didn’t go perfectly. It went well enough, though.
那次簡報不是百分之百順利，不過還算不錯。
(4)
A: Is your new manager easy to work with?
A: 你的新主管好相處嗎？
B: Although he sets high standards, everyone on the team respects him.
B: 雖然他要求很高，但整個團隊都很尊重他。
(5)
A: Did you enjoy the film?
A: 你喜歡那部電影嗎？
B: I liked it overall, though the ending was a bit disappointing.
B: 整體我喜歡，不過結局有點讓人失望。
Although…but 放在一起是文法錯誤
台灣人學英文最常犯的錯誤之一，就是把「雖然…但是」直接翻成 although…but，因為中文習慣讓這兩個詞成對出現。但在英文裡，although 本身就已經帶有轉折的語意，後面不需要再加 but 來強調，兩個放在一起會造成結構衝突，等於同一句話說了兩次轉折。
Though 也是一樣的道理，though…but 同樣是錯的。Even though 也屬於同一家族，後面加 but 一樣不對，規則完全相同。
解決方法很簡單：選一個用就好。要用 although 或 though，就把 but 拿掉；要用 but，就把 although 或 though 拿掉。
(6)
❌ Although it was expensive, but I bought it anyway.
✅ Although it was expensive, I bought it anyway.
✅ It was expensive, but I bought it anyway.
雖然很貴，我還是買了。
(7)
A: We practiced for months. Although the first few sessions were rough, but we eventually got it together.
A: 我們練了好幾個月，雖然前幾次很慘，但最後還是搞定了。
B: Nice! Oh, drop the “but” — “although” already handles the contrast. “Although the first few sessions were rough, we eventually got it together.”
B: 不錯！對了，那個 “but” 可以拿掉，”although” 本身就有轉折的意思了。”Although the first few sessions were rough, we eventually got it together” 就好。
(8)
❌ Though she studied all night, but she still failed the test.
✅ Though she studied all night, she still failed the test.
她雖然讀了一整晚，還是考不好。
(9)
❌ Even though I was running late, but she waited an extra twenty minutes.
✅ Even though I was running late, she waited an extra twenty minutes.
我雖然遲到了，她還是多等了二十分鐘。
But 最好理解，但有個眉角
But 用法最直觀，是這五個轉折詞裡最口語、最常見的一個，用來連接兩個有對比關係的子句。基本用法相信你已經非常熟悉了。
不過有個常被提到的眉角：在正式寫作裡，句子不建議用 but 開頭。口語對話完全沒問題，但如果是寫給客戶的郵件或學術報告，句首出現 but 會顯得比較不正式，這時候可以改用 however。這類用來銜接句子和段落的詞，在英文寫作中統稱為 cohesive devices，了解它們在正式和口語場合的差別，對寫作很有幫助。
(10)
A: Are you going to the party tonight?
A: 你今晚要去派對嗎？
B: I really want to, but I have to finish this report first.
B: 我很想去，但我得先把這份報告做完。
(11)
A: How’s your new apartment?
A: 你的新公寓怎麼樣？
B: I love the location, but the rent is a bit painful.
B: 我很喜歡地點，但租金有點貴到心痛。
(12)
The hotel room was small but surprisingly comfortable.
飯店房間很小，但出乎意料地舒適。
(13)
A: My manager sent back my report and said it sounded informal. I had started three sentences with “But.”
A: 我主管把報告退回來說語氣不夠正式，我有三個句子是用 “But” 開頭的。
B: Yeah, that’s probably why. In formal writing, swap “But” for “However” at the start — makes a big difference.
B: 對，大概就是這樣。正式寫作裡，句首的 “But” 換成 “However” 差很多。
Despite 用法，後面不能接子句
Despite 是這五個字裡結構最容易搞錯的，也是 despite 用法最值得重點掌握的地方。
Despite 的中文意思是「儘管、即使」，語意上和 although 很接近，但後面接的東西完全不一樣。Although 後面接的是完整子句（有主詞和動詞），despite 後面只能接名詞或動名詞（-ing 形式），不能直接接一個完整的句子。
最常見的錯誤就是把 despite 當成 although 用，在後面放一個子句：
❌ Despite she worked hard, she didn’t get promoted.
✅ Despite working hard, she didn’t get promoted.
✅ Although she worked hard, she didn’t get promoted.
儘管努力工作，她還是沒有升遷。
如果真的想在 despite 後面接子句，可以加上 “the fact that”：
Despite the fact that she worked hard, she didn’t get promoted. ✓
(14)
A: How did the team manage to finish on time?
A: 那個團隊怎麼能準時完成？
B: Despite the tight deadline, everyone stayed focused and pulled through.
B: 儘管截止日期很緊，大家還是集中精神撐過來了。
(15)
A: Was the outdoor concert ruined by the weather?
A: 那場露天演唱會被天氣毀了嗎？
B: Not at all. Despite the heavy rain, nobody left early.
B: 完全沒有。儘管下大雨，沒有人提早離開。
(16)
Despite being nervous, she gave an excellent presentation.
儘管很緊張，她還是做了一場很出色的簡報。
(17)
A: I heard your team closed the deal even without a marketing budget?
A: 聽說你們沒有行銷預算也談成了？
B: Yeah! Despite having almost no budget, we found clients through referrals.
B: 對！儘管幾乎沒有預算，我們透過口碑介紹找到了客戶。
(18)
❌ Despite the restaurant was fully booked, we somehow got a table.
✅ Despite the restaurant being fully booked, we somehow got a table.
✅ Despite the fact that the restaurant was fully booked, we somehow got a table.
儘管餐廳完全訂滿了，我們還是莫名其妙地坐到位子了。
(19)
Despite his best efforts, the project was cancelled.
儘管他盡了全力，那個專案還是被取消了。
Despite 和 in spite of 差在哪？
直接說結論：despite 和 in spite of 的意思和文法用法幾乎完全一樣，都表示「儘管」，後面也都只能接名詞或動名詞，不能直接接完整子句。在 despite in spite of 分別上，兩者最主要的差別只有語氣：in spite of 聽起來稍微偏書面和正式，despite 則更通用，口語書面都很自然。如果不確定用哪個，選 despite 通常不會錯。
另外有一個非常常見的錯誤要提醒：despite 後面不需要加 of。”Despite of the rain” 是錯的，because despite 本身就已經有介系詞功能，不需要再加 of。”In spite of” 才有 of，因為它本來就是由三個字組成的片語。
(20)
Despite the traffic, we arrived on time.
In spite of the traffic, we arrived on time.
以上兩句意思完全相同：儘管塞車，我們還是準時到達。
(21)
A: She kept showing up every day, in spite of everything that was going on at home.
A: 她每天還是照常來，儘管家裡那時有很多事在發生。
B: That’s dedication. You could’ve said “despite everything” too — means the exact same thing, just a bit less formal.
B: 她真的很有毅力。你也可以說 “despite everything”，意思完全一樣，只是少了一點點正式感。
(22)
In spite of feeling exhausted, he stayed until the end of the meeting.
儘管疲憊不堪，他還是待到會議結束。
(23)
❌ In spite of she was jet-lagged, she still showed up to the meeting.
✅ In spite of being jet-lagged, she still showed up to the meeting.
✅ In spite of her jet lag, she still showed up to the meeting.
儘管時差還很嚴重，她還是出席了那個會議。
(24)
In spite of all the setbacks, the project was a success in the end.
儘管一路上遇到各種阻礙，那個專案最終還是成功了。
接名詞還是接子句？
把剛才說的整理一下，這是理解這五個轉折詞最核心的差別：
Although、though 和 but 後面接的是完整子句，也就是有主詞和動詞的完整句子。Despite 和 in spite of 後面接的是名詞或動名詞，不接完整子句。搞清楚這一點，”Despite she was late” 這樣的錯誤就不會再出現了。
下面這張比較圖用同一個場景（下雨）示範五個字各自的寫法，讓你一眼看出結構差別：
在 although 用法上，有一個很實用的轉換技巧：如果你想把 although 的句子改寫成 despite 的句子，通常只需要把子句裡的主詞和動詞改成對應的名詞或動名詞。
(25)
Although she was tired, she kept working.
Despite her tiredness, she kept working.
（兩句意思相同，結構不一樣）
(26)
❌ Despite she studied every day, her speaking didn’t improve much.
✅ Despite studying every day, her speaking didn’t improve much.
✅ Despite daily practice, her speaking didn’t improve much.
儘管每天都在練習，她的口說進步不大。
(27)
Although the exam was difficult, most students passed.
Despite the difficulty of the exam, most students passed.
雖然考試很難，大部分的學生還是通過了。
(28)
A: We actually pulled off the whole launch despite of all the server issues that morning.
A: 我們居然在那天早上一堆伺服器問題的情況下把發布搞定了。
B: That’s a win. Oh, it’s just “despite all the server issues” — no “of” after despite.
B: 這算是勝利了。對了，是 “despite all the server issues” 就好，despite 後面不加 “of”。
(29)
Although the hotel was small, it was worth the price.
Despite its small size, the hotel was worth the price.
雖然飯店很小，但物有所值。
Although、though、but、despite、in spite of，這五個字表達的都是轉折，但後面接的結構完全不一樣，這才是最值得記住的地方。搞清楚 although 系列後面接子句、despite 系列後面接名詞或動名詞，再記得 although 和 but 不能同時出現在同一句話裡，轉折句就難不倒你了。
延伸閱讀:【Even though 用法完全搞懂：跟 Even if、Although 到底差在哪？】
如果你喜歡這篇文章的話，可以追蹤我們的Threads和Facebook唷!