倒 / 倒是dào / dàoshì

Modal Adverbs 倒 / 倒是 (dào / dàoshì): Actually / On the contrary / Admittedly...

Meaning: Actually / instead (mild contrast); admittedly... (concession)

Pattern

倒 (always pronounced dào in the 4th tone here, not dǎo) and its expanded form 倒是 are versatile colloquial adverbs placed AFTER the subject and BEFORE the predicate.
They have three main uses: (1) Mild counter-expectation ("surprisingly / instead", lighter than 反而, e.g., 外面下雨了，他倒不在乎); (2) Concession followed by a reservation ("admittedly... it's just that...", paired with 就是, 不过, or 只是 in the second clause, e.g., 这道菜的味道倒是不错，就是有点咸); (3) Urging or challenging someone to speak or act (e.g., 你倒说说看).

1
外面下雨了，他倒不在乎，照样出去。
Wàimiàn xià yǔ le, tā dào bù zàihu, zhàoyàng chūqù.
It's raining outside, yet he doesn't care at all and goes out as usual.
2
这道菜的味道倒是不错，就是有点咸。
Zhè dào cài de wèidào dàoshì bùcuò, jiùshì yǒudiǎn xián.
The taste of this dish is admittedly pretty good; it's just a bit salty.
3
你倒说说看，这件事到底怪谁？
Nǐ dào shuōshuo kàn, zhè jiàn shì dàodǐ guài shéi?
Come on, tell me then—who on earth is to blame for this matter?

•Pronounced dào (4th tone) and placed after the subject; often forms 倒(是)…，就是/不过… ("admittedly..., it's just that...").

⚠️ Common Mistakes:

•Mispronouncing the modal adverb 倒 as 3rd tone dǎo ("to fall") instead of 4th tone dào.

•Placing 倒 before the subject (*倒他不来 instead of 他倒不来).

Combine Vocabulary, Grammar, Reading Practice, Listening, Hanzi Writing, and Mock Exams at HSK 5 to master all skills together.