Difference between revisions of "Two words for "but""
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| − | Using "but" in Chinese is really simple | + | Using "but" in Chinese is really simple to learn. It involves the two words 可是 (kěshì) and 但是 (dànshì). Make no "buts" about it; you'll understand it in no time! |
| − | == | + | == Structure == |
| − | There are two main words for "but" in Chinese: 可是 (kěshì) and 但是 (dànshì). These are largely the same, | + | 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 slightly more formal, whereas 可是 (kěshì) is just a bit more informal and a tad weaker 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. |
| − | + | <div class="jiegou"> | |
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| − | + | Statement， 可是 / 但是 + [Contrary Statement] | |
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| − | + | </div> | |
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== Examples == | == Examples == | ||
| − | Usually 可是 and 但是 precede a new phrase within a sentence: | + | Usually 可是 (kěshì) and 但是 (dànshì) precede a new phrase within a sentence: |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| + | *我 喜欢 他，<em>可是</em> 他 不 喜欢 我。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan tā, <em>kěshì</em> tā bù xǐhuan wǒ.</span><span class="trans">I like him, but he doesn't like me.</span> | ||
| + | *我 很 想 去，<em>但是</em> 我 太 忙 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hěn xiǎng qù, <em>dànshì</em> wǒ tài máng le.</span><span class="trans">I really want to go, but I am too busy.</span> | ||
| + | *中文 很 有意思，<em>但是</em> 也 很 难。<span class="pinyin">Zhōngwén hěn yǒuyìsi, <em>dànshì</em> yě hěn nán.</span><span class="trans">Chinese is very interesting, but it is also very hard.</span> | ||
| + | *我 喜欢 这 件 衬衫，<em>可是</em> 太 贵 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan zhè jiàn chènshān, <em>kěshì</em> tài guì le.</span><span class="trans">I like this shirt, but it is too expensive.</span> | ||
| + | *老板 昨天 给 他 打 电话，<em>可是</em> 他 没 接。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn zuótiān gěi tā dǎ diànhuà, <em>kěshì</em> tā méi jiē.</span><span class="trans">The boss gave him a call yesterday, but he didn't answer.</span> | ||
| + | *iPhone 很 好，<em>但是</em> 我 没 钱 买。<span class="pinyin">iPhone hěn hǎo, <em>dànshì</em> wǒ méi qián mǎi.</span><span class="trans">The iPhone is great, but I don't have the money to buy it.</span> | ||
| + | *你们 可以 在 这里 看书，<em>可是</em> 不 可以 说话。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ kàn shū, <em>kěshì</em> bù kěyǐ shuōhuà.</span><span class="trans">You can read books here, but you can't talk.</span> | ||
| + | *你 可以 吃， <em>但是</em> 不 可以 吃 太 多。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ chī, <em>dànshì</em> bù kěyǐ chī tài duō.</span><span class="trans">You can eat, but you can't eat too much.</span> | ||
| + | *他 说 五 点 来 见 我，<em>但是</em> 他 没 来。<span class="pinyin">Tā shuō wǔ diǎn lái jiàn wǒ, <em>dànshì</em> tā méi lái.</span><span class="trans">He said he would come to see me at five, but he didn't.</span> | ||
| + | *这 个 地方 很 漂亮，<em>但是</em> 人 太 多 了。<span class="pinyin">Zhège dìfang hěn piàoliang, <em>dànshì</em> rén tài duō le.</span><span class="trans">This place is beautiful, but there are too many people.</span> | ||
| + | </div> | ||
| − | + | '''Note:''' In informal spoken Chinese, 可是 (kěshì) can be shortened to 可 (kě), and 但是 (dànshì) can be shortened to 但 (dàn). | |
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==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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=== Books === | === Books === | ||
| − | + | {{Source|HSK Standard Course 4上|108}} | |
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| + | {{Source|Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)|254-5}} | ||
| + | {{Source|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) | ||
| + | {{Source|发展汉语 中级汉语口语上|3}} | ||
[[Category:A2 grammar points]] | [[Category:A2 grammar points]] | ||
| − | {{Basic Grammar|但是|A2| | + | {{HSK|HSK4}} |
| + | {{Basic Grammar|但是|A2|……，可是 / 但是……|我 喜欢 他，<em>可是</em>/<em>但是</em> 他 不 喜欢 我。|grammar point|ASGUD81S}} | ||
{{Rel char|可是}} | {{Rel char|可是}} | ||
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{{Rel char|但}} | {{Rel char|但}} | ||
{{Rel char|可}} | {{Rel char|可}} | ||
{{Similar|A Softer "But"}} | {{Similar|A Softer "But"}} | ||
{{Similar|"Although" with "suiran" and "danshi"}} | {{Similar|"Although" with "suiran" and "danshi"}} | ||
| + | {{Similar|Expressing "however" with "ran'er"}} | ||
{{POS|Conjunctions}} | {{POS|Conjunctions}} | ||
| − | |||
{{Used for|Connecting ideas}} | {{Used for|Connecting ideas}} | ||
| + | {{Used for|Contrasting}} | ||
| + | {{Translation|although}} | ||
{{Translation|but}} | {{Translation|but}} | ||
Latest revision as of 04:48, 9 March 2019
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
Using "but" in Chinese is really simple to learn. It involves the two words 可是 (kěshì) and 但是 (dànshì). Make no "buts" about it; you'll understand it in no time!
Structure
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 slightly more formal, whereas 可是 (kěshì) is just a bit more informal and a tad weaker 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 他 不 喜欢 我。I like him, but he doesn't like me.
- 我 很 想 去，但是 我 太 忙 了。I really want to go, but I am too busy.
- 中文 很 有意思，但是 也 很 难。Chinese is very interesting, but it is also very hard.
- 我 喜欢 这 件 衬衫，可是 太 贵 了。I like this shirt, but it is too expensive.
- 老板 昨天 给 他 打 电话，可是 他 没 接。The boss gave him a call yesterday, but he didn't answer.
- iPhone 很 好，但是 我 没 钱 买。The iPhone is great, but I don't have the money to buy it.
- 你们 可以 在 这里 看书，可是 不 可以 说话。You can read books here, but you can't talk.
- 你 可以 吃， 但是 不 可以 吃 太 多。You can eat, but you can't eat too much.
- 他 说 五 点 来 见 我，但是 他 没 来。He said he would come to see me at five, but he didn't.
- 这 个 地方 很 漂亮，但是 人 太 多 了。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
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) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
{{Source|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 (pp. 3) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy
