Difference between revisions of "A softer "but" with "buguo""

Revision as of 03:52, 10 October 2017

Level

B1 / HSK4
Level

B1
Level

HSK4
Similar to
- Two words for "but" (A2)
- Expressing "although" with "suiran" and "danshi" (B1)
- The "however" adverb "que" (B2)
Similar to
- Expressing "although" with "suiran" and "danshi" (HSK2)
- The "however" adverb "que" (HSK4)
- Two words for "but" (HSK4)
Used for

Contrasting, Connecting ideas
Keywords

不, 不过, 过

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.

Clause 1，不过 + Clause 2

Examples

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.
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.
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 méishénme 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.
他们昨天吵架了，不过又和好了。Tāmen zuótiān chǎojià le, bùguò yòu héhǎo le.They had a fight yesterday, but they made up.

Sources and further reading

Books

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 *那儿 的 天气 不 太 好 ，<em>不过</em> 我们 玩 得 很 开心 。<span class="pinyin">Nàr de tiānqì bù tài hǎo, <em>bùguò</em> wǒmen wán de hěn kāixīn.</span><span class="trans">The whether there was not very good, but we had a lot of fun.</span>
 *你 可以 参加 ，<em>不过</em> 我 有 个 条件 。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ cānjiā, <em>bùguò</em> wǒ yǒu gè tiáojiàn.</span><span class="trans">You can participate, but I have a condition.</span>
-*刚 来 的 时候 很 想家 ，<em>不过</em> 现在 习惯 了 。<span class="trans">I was homesick when I first came here, but I'm getting used to it now.</span>
 *他 是 东北 人 ，<em>不过</em> 他 没有 口音 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì Dōngběi rén, <em>bùguò</em> tā méiyǒu kǒuyīn.</span><span class="trans">He's from Northeast, but he doesn't have the accent.</span>
 *他 的 汉语 口语 不错 ，<em>不过</em> 不 认识 汉字 。<span class="pinyin">Tā de Hànyǔ kǒuyǔ bùcuò, <em>bùguò</em> bù rènshi hànzì.</span><span class="trans">His speaking Chinese is pretty good, but he doesn't know any characters.</span>
 *我 的 钱包 丢 了 ，<em>不过</em> 里面 没什么 重要 的 东西 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ de qiánbāo diū le, <em>bùguò</em> lǐmiàn méishénme zhòngyào de dōngxi.</span><span class="trans">I lost my wallet, but there was nothing important in it.</span>
+*刚 来 的 时候 很 想家 ，<em>不过</em> 现在 习惯 了 。<span class="pinyin">Gāng lái de shíhou hěn xiǎng jiā, <em>bùguò</em> xiànzài xíguàn le.</span><span class="trans">I was homesick when I first came here, but I'm getting used to it now.</span>
 *他们 昨天 吵架 了 ，<em>不过</em> 又 和好 了 。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen zuótiān chǎojià le, <em>bùguò</em> yòu héhǎo le.</span><span class="trans">They had a fight yesterday, but they made up.</span>