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), which also means "but."

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 piece of 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 weather 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 the northeast, but he doesn't have the accent.
• 他 说 得 不错 ，不过 不 认识 汉字 。Tā shuō de bùcuò, bùguò bù rènshi Hànzì.He can speak well, but he doesn't know any Chinese characters.
• 我 的 钱包 丢 了 ，不过 没 丢 什么 重要 的 东西 。Wǒ de qiánbāo diū le, bùguò méi diū shénme zhòngyào de dōngxi.I lost my wallet, but I didn't lose anything important.
• 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 got here, but I'm used to it now.
• 你 可以 参加 ，不过 有 个 条件 。Nǐ kěyǐ cānjiā, bùguò yǒu gè tiáojiàn.You can participate, but there is a condition.
• 他 还 在 考虑 ，不过 我 已经 决定 了。Tā hái zài kǎolǜ, bùguò wǒ yǐjīng juédìng le.He's still considering it, but I've already decided.

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