A softer "but" with "buguo"

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

• 我 可以 让 你 参加 ，不过 我 有 个 条件 。Wǒ kěyǐ ràng nǐ cānjiā, bùguò wǒ yǒu gè tiáojiàn.I can let you participate, but I have a condition.
• 工作 压力 有点 大 ，不过 我 已经 习惯 了 。Gōngzuò yālì yǒudiǎn dà, bùguò wǒ yǐjīng xíguàn le.Working pressure is a little too much, but I'm already used to it.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 这个 学生 很 聪明 ，不过 不太 努力 。Zhège xuéshēng hěn cōngming, bùguò bù tài nǔlì.This student is very smart, but he's not very hardworking.
• 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.

See also

• Two words for "but"
• "Although" with "suiran" and "danshi"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 258) →buy
• Short-term Spoken Chinese: Elementary (汉语口语速成基础篇) (pp. 23) →buy
• Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级) (pp. 254) →buy
• Boya Chinese Lower Intermediate 1 (博雅汉语准中级加速篇) (pp. 12) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (p. 163) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 2 (p. 96) →buy