Admittedly… but… (固然)

Structure 固然 + A (the point conceded)，但/却 + B (the objection)

固然 (gùrán) concedes a point in order to rebut it afterwards: "admittedly A, but B". It is a device of essay-writing and cultivated argument: one first grants something true or reasonable, then, with 但/却, immediately introduces the objection that really matters: 这个办法固然有效，但代价太大 = "this method is effective, true, but the cost is too high". It corresponds to a more formal, argumentative 虽然 (HSK 3), the difference being that 固然 stresses that the conceded point is beyond dispute, not a mere circumstance.

Examples

这zhè个gè办bàn法fǎ固gù然rán有yǒu效xiào，但dàn代dài价jià太tài大dà。
This method is admittedly effective, but the cost is too high.
天tiān分fèn固gù然rán重zhòng要yào，努nǔ力lì却què更gèng不bù可kě少shǎo。
Talent is admittedly important, but effort is even more indispensable.
批pī评píng固gù然rán刺cì耳ěr，但dàn往wǎng往wǎng切qiè中zhòng要yào害hài。
Criticism is admittedly harsh to hear, but it often hits the mark.
成chéng功gōng固gù然rán可kě喜xǐ，失shī败bài的de教jiào训xùn却què更gèng宝bǎo贵guì。
Success is admittedly cause for joy, but the lessons of failure are even more precious.

Levels are indicative: they follow the standard Chinese Grammar Wiki (AllSet Learning) progression, not an official HSK 3.0 mapping. We never assign levels by eye.

This point and the other 370, with audio on every example, inside Wanyu.