Difference between revisions of "Two words for "but""

Revision as of 05:28, 29 January 2013

Using "but" in Chinese is really simple and easy to learn, and it involves two words. No "buts" about it!

There are two main words for "but" in Chinese: 可是 and 但是. These are largely the same, with some small differences:

Usually 可是 and 但是 precede a new phrase within a sentence:

我喜欢，但是我不需要。I like it, but I don't need it
在图书馆你可以喝水，但是不可以抽烟。In the library you can drink water, but you can't smoke.
我们决定九点见面，可是我觉得他会迟到。We decided on meeting at 9 o'clock, but I think that he is late.

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 {{Grammar Box}}
+Using "but" in Chinese is really simple and easy to learn, and it involves two words. No "buts" about it!
 == 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:
-{| class="wikitable"
+{| class="wikitable"style="width:100%"
 |+可是 vs 但是
 |-
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 <div class="liju">
-* 我 喜欢，<em>但是</em> 我 不 需要。
+* 我 喜欢，<em>但是</em> 我 不 需要。<span class="trans">I like it, but I don't need it</span>
-* 在 图书馆 你 可以 喝水，<em>但是</em> 不 可以 抽烟。
+* 在 图书馆 你 可以 喝水，<em>但是</em> 不 可以 抽烟。<span class="trans">In the library you can drink water, but you can't smoke.</span>
-* 我们 决定 九点 见面，<em>可是</em> 我 觉得 他 会 迟到。
+* 我们 决定 九点 见面，<em>可是</em> 我 觉得 他 会 迟到。<span class="trans">We decided on meeting at 9 o'clock, but I think that he is late.</span>
 </div>