Two words for "but"

Using "but" in Chinese is really simple and easy to learn. It involves two words 可是 (kěshì) and 但是 (dànshì). Make no "buts" about it; you'll understand it in no time!

Basic Pattern

There are two main words for "but" in Chinese: 可是 (kěshì) and 但是 (dànshì). These are largely the same. The small difference is that 但是 (dànshì) is a bit more formal and more common in northern China, whereas 可是 (kěshì) is more informal and a bit stronger in tone. You really don't need to worry about which one is the right one to use though, since they can be used interchangeably.

Statement, 可是 / 但是 + [contrary statement]

Examples

Usually 可是 (kěshì) and 但是 (dànshì) precede a new phrase within a sentence:

• 我 喜欢 他，可是 / 但是 他 不 喜欢 我。Wǒ xǐhuan tā, kěshì / dànshì tā bù xǐhuan wǒ. I like him, but he doesn't like me.
• 我 很 想 去，可是 / 但是 我 太 忙 了。 Wǒ hěn xiǎng qù, kěshì / dànshì wǒ tài máng le. I really want to go, but I am too busy.
• 中文 很 有意思，可是 / 但是 也 很 难。Zhōngwén hěn yǒuyìsi, kěshì / dànshì yě hěn nán. Chinese is very interesting, but it is also very hard.
• 我 喜欢 这 件 衬衫，可是 / 但是 太 贵 了。Wǒ xǐhuan zhè jiàn chènshān, kěshì / dànshì tài guì le. I like this shirt, but it is too expensive.
• 老板 昨天 给 他 打 电话，可是 / 但是 他 没 接。Lǎobǎn zuótiān gěi tā dǎ diànhuà, kěshì / dànshì tā méi jiē. The boss gave him a call yesterday, but he didn't answer.
• iPhone 很好，可是 / 但是 我 没 钱 买。iPhone hěn hǎo, kěshì / dànshì wǒ méiqián mǎi. The iPhone is great, but I don't have money to buy it.
• 你们 可以 在 这里 看书，可是 / 但是 不 可以 说话。Nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ kàn shū, kěshì / dànshì bù kěyǐ shuōhuà. You can read books here, but you can't talk.
• 你 可以 吃， 可是 / 但是 不 可以 吃 太 多。Nǐ kěyǐ chī, kěshì / dànshì bù kěyǐ chī tài duō. You can eat, but you can't eat too much.
• 他 说 五点 来 见 我，可是 / 但是 他 没 来。Tā shuō wǔdiǎn lái jiàn wǒ, kěshì / dànshì tā méi lái. He said he would come to see me at five, but he didn't.
• 这 个 地方 很 漂亮，可是 / 但是 人 太 多 了。Zhè ge dìfang hěn piàoliang, kěshì / dànshì rén tài duō le. This place is beautiful, but there are too many people.

Note: In informal spoken Chinese, 可是 (kěshì) can be shortened to 可 (kě), and 但是 (dànshì) can be shortened to 但 (dàn).

See also

• A Softer "But"
• "Although" with "suiran" and "danshi"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp. 254-5) →buy

• Chinese Reference Series for Foreigners - 1700 Groups of Frequently Used Chinese Synonyms (外国人学汉语工具书 - 1700对近义词语用法对比) (p.319)

• 发展汉语 中级汉语口语上 (p. 3)→buy