A softer "but" with "buguo"

Instead of just using 可是 or 但是, you can also use the softer and more informal 不过 (búguò).

Structure

Just like its counterparts, 不过 is a conjunction that comes between two distinct clauses.

⋯⋯ ，不过 ⋯⋯

Examples

• 这 件 衣服 我 很 喜欢 ，不过 有点 贵 。 Zhè jiàn yīfu wǒ hěn xǐhuan, bùguò yǒudiǎn guì.I like this clothing, but it's a little bit expensive.
• 这 家 餐厅 我 没 去 过 ，不过 我 听说 还 不错 。Zhè jiā cāntīng wǒ méi qù guo, bùguò wǒ tīngshuō hái bùcuò.I've never been to this restaurant, but I heard it's pretty good.
• 这个 学生 很 聪明 ，不过 有点 懒 。Zhège xuéshēng hěn cōngming, bùguò yǒudiǎn lǎn.This student is very smart, but he's a little lazy.
• 那儿 的 天气 不 太 好 ，不过 我们 玩 得 很 开心 。Nàr de tiānqì bù tài hǎo, bùguò wǒmen wán de hěn kāixīn.The whether there was not very good, but we had a lot of fun.
• 他 是 东北 人 ，不过 他 没有 口音 。Tā shì Dōngběi rén, bùguò tā méiyǒu kǒuyīn.He's from Northeast, but he doesn't have the accent.
• 他 的 汉语 口语 不错 ，不过 不 认识 汉字 。Tā de Hànyǔ kǒuyǔ bùcuò, bùguò bù rènshi hànzì.His speaking Chinese is pretty good, but he doesn't know any characters.
• 我 的 钱包 丢 了 ，不过 里面 没什么 重要 的 东西 。Wǒ de qiánbāo diū le, bùguò lǐmiàn méi shénme zhòngyào de dōngxi.I lost my wallet, but there was nothing important in it.
• 刚 来 的 时候 很 想家 ，不过 现在 习惯 了 。Gāng lái de shíhou hěn xiǎng jiā, bùguò xiànzài xíguàn le.I was homesick when I first came here, but I'm getting used to it now.
• 你 可以 参加 ，不过 我 有 个 条件 。Nǐ kěyǐ cānjiā, bùguò wǒ yǒu gè tiáojiàn.You can participate, but I have a condition.
• 我们 在 考虑 ，不过 还没 决定 。Wǒmen zài kǎolǜ, bùguò hái méi juédìng.We're considering, but we haven't decided yet.

See also

• Two words for "but"
• "Although" with "suiran" and "danshi"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 258) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Short-term Spoken Chinese: Elementary (汉语口语速成基础篇) (pp. 23) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp. 254) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Boya Chinese Lower Intermediate 1 (博雅汉语准中级加速篇) (pp. 12) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 163) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (pp. 96) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy