Difference between revisions of "Two words for "but""
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There are two main words for "but" in Chinese: 可是 and 但是. These are largely the same, with some small differences:
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{{Grammar Box}}
  
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{| class="wikitable"
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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!
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|+可是 vs 但是
 
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! 可是 !! 但是
 
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| Lighter || Stronger
 
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| Less formal || More formal
 
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| Used more in speech || Used more in writing
 
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Usually 可是 and 但是 precede a new phrase within a sentence:
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== Structure ==
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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.
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<div class="jiegou">
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Statement， 可是 / 但是 + [Contrary Statement]
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</div>
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== Examples ==
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Usually 可是 (kěshì) and 但是 (dànshì) precede a new phrase within a sentence:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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*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>
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*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>
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*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>
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*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>
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*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>
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*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>
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*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>
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*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>
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*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>
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*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>
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</div>
  
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* 我 喜欢，<en>但是</en> 我 不 要 买。
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'''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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* 在 图书馆 你 可以 喝水，<en>但是</en> 不 可以 抽烟。
 
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* 我们 决定 九点 见面，<em>可是</em> 我 觉得 他 会 迟到。
 
  
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</div>
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==See also==
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*[[A Softer "But"]]
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*[["Although" with "suiran" and "danshi"]]
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== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
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{{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}}
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{{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)
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{{Source|发展汉语 中级汉语口语上|3}}
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK4}}
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{{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}}
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{{Rel char|可是}}
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{{Rel char|但}}
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{{Rel char|可}}
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{{Similar|A Softer "But"}} 
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{{Similar|"Although" with "suiran" and "danshi"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "however" with "ran'er"}}
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{{POS|Conjunctions}}
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{{Used for|Connecting ideas}}
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{{Used for|Contrasting}}
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{{Translation|although}}
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{{Translation|but}}

Latest revision as of 04:48, 9 March 2019

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。Wǒ xǐhuan tā, kěshì tā bù xǐhuan wǒ.I like him, but he doesn't like me.
  • 我 很 想 去，但是 我 太 忙 了。Wǒ hěn xiǎng qù, dànshì wǒ tài máng le.I really want to go, but I am too busy.
  • 中文 很 有意思，但是 也 很 难。Zhōngwén hěn yǒuyìsi, dànshì yě hěn nán.Chinese is very interesting, but it is also very hard.
  • 我 喜欢 这 件 衬衫，可是 太 贵 了。Wǒ xǐhuan zhè jiàn chènshān, kěshì tài guì le.I like this shirt, but it is too expensive.
  • 老板 昨天 给 他 打 电话，可是 他 没 接。Lǎobǎn zuótiān gěi tā dǎ diànhuà, kěshì tā méi jiē.The boss gave him a call yesterday, but he didn't answer.
  • iPhone 很 好，但是 我 没 钱 买。iPhone hěn hǎo, dànshì wǒ méi qián mǎi.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。Nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ kàn shū, kěshì bù kěyǐ shuōhuà.You can read books here, but you can't talk.
  • 你 可以 吃， 但是 不 可以 吃 太 多。Nǐ kěyǐ chī, dànshì bù kěyǐ chī tài duō.You can eat, but you can't eat too much.
  • 他 说 五 点 来 见 我，但是 他 没 来。Tā shuō wǔ diǎn lái jiàn wǒ, 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，但是 人 太 多 了。Zhège dìfang hěn piàoliang, 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

Sources and further reading

Books

{{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)


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