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

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books