雖

Concessive (factual): "although," "though." Acknowledges an existing state of affairs.

Conditional (hypothetical): "even if," "even though." Posits a potential or hypothetical scenario.

A conjunction used to establish contradiction or concession. It introduces a premise that creates a logical tension, which is typically resolved in the following clause. The transition to this resolution may be explicitly marked by particles such as 而 (ér) or 但 (dàn), though this "turn" is frequently implicit in earlier or more concise texts. Often works in tandem with 然 (rán), where 雖 anchors the initial concession and 然 provides the pivot to the conclusion.

The glyph itself does not distinguish between its factual concessive and hypothetical conditional moods; the choice depends entirely on context.

Simplified variant: U+867D.

While etymologically linked to breathing or sighing, this sense is effectively absent in classical usage. The glyph should be treated strictly as a functional conjunction unless the context renders a logical reading impossible.