Difference between revisions of "Two words for "but""
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{{Basic Grammar|但是|A2|……，但是 / 可是……|我 喜欢，<em>但是</em> 我 不 需要。|grammar point|ASGUD81S}} | {{Basic Grammar|但是|A2|……，但是 / 可是……|我 喜欢，<em>但是</em> 我 不 需要。|grammar point|ASGUD81S}} | ||
{{Rel char|可是}} | {{Rel char|可是}} | ||
| + | {{Rel char|是}} | ||
| + | {{Rel char|但}} | ||
{{Similar|A Softer "But"}} | {{Similar|A Softer "But"}} | ||
{{Similar|"Although" with "suiran" and "danshi"}} | {{Similar|"Although" with "suiran" and "danshi"}} | ||
{{POS|Conjunctions}} | {{POS|Conjunctions}} | ||
{{Used for|Giving alternatives}} | {{Used for|Giving alternatives}} | ||
Revision as of 09:20, 26 September 2012
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
Basic Pattern
There are two main words for "but" in Chinese: 可是 and 但是. These are largely the same, with some small differences:
| 可是 | 但是 |
|---|---|
| Lighter | Stronger |
| Less formal | More formal |
| Used more in speech | Used more in writing |
| Used more in the north | Used more in the south |
Examples
Usually 可是 and 但是 precede a new phrase within a sentence:
- 我 喜欢，但是 我 不 需要。
- 在 图书馆 你 可以 喝水，但是 不 可以 抽烟。
- 我们 决定 九点 见面，可是 我 觉得 他 会 迟到。
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) →buy
- 发展汉语 中级汉语口语上 (pp. 3)
