A subordinate complex sentence is composed of clauses with a subordinate relation. Between the clauses there is a primary and a secondary. For instance,

尽管我很努力了，但是我考试还是没及格 (jìnguǎn wǒ hěn nǔlì le ，dànshì wǒ kǎoshì háishì méi jí gé)。Even though I tried my best, I didn’t pass the exam. (Contrasting relation — the first clause is the subordinate clause and the second clause is the main clause.)

因为今天停电，所以我没法看电视了 (yīnwéi jīntiān tíngdiàn ，suǒyǐ wǒ méifǎ kàn diàn shì le)。Because the power is cut off, I cannot watch the TV. (Causative relation — the first clause [the subordinate clause] explains the reason and the second clause [the main clause] explains the result.)

如果明天不下雨，我们去公园玩吧 (rúguǒ míngtiān bú xiàyǔ ，wǒmen qù gōngyuán wán ba)。If it doesn’t rain tomorrow, let’s go to the park. (Supposition or conditional relation — the first clause explains the condition and the second clause explains the result if the condition is satisfied.)

Often encountered correlative conjunctions in subordinate complex sentences include: 宁可 (nìngkě)、与其 (yǔqí)、就是 (jiùshì)、即使 (jíshǐ)、假如 (jiǎrú)、如果 (rúguǒ)、要是 (yàoshì)、除非 (chúfēi)、只有 (zhǐyǒu)、无论 (wúlùn)、不论 (búlùn)、不管 (bùguǎn)、既然 (jìrán)、由于 (yóuyú)、因为 (yīnwéi)、尽管 (jìnguǎn)、虽然 (suīrán)、但是 (dànshì)、为的是 (wèi de shì)、因此 (yīncǐ)、and 所以 (suǒyǐ). Frequently encountered correlative adverbs in the main clauses of subordinate complex sentences include: 才 (cái)、就 (jiù)、也 (yě)、都 (dōu)、即 (jí)、反而 (fǎn'ér)。