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

m (Text replacement - "zùo" to "zuò")
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* 我 很 想 去 , <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 我 很 忙 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ hěn xiǎng qù, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> wǒ hěn máng.</span> <span class="trans">I really want to go, but I am very busy.</span>
 
* 我 很 想 去 , <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 我 很 忙 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ hěn xiǎng qù, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> wǒ hěn máng.</span> <span class="trans">I really want to go, but I am very busy.</span>
 
* 中文 很 有用 , <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 很 难 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhōngwén hěn yǒu yòng, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> hěn nán.</span> <span class="trans">Chinese is very useful, but it is very hard.</span>
 
* 中文 很 有用 , <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 很 难 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhōngwén hěn yǒu yòng, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> hěn nán.</span> <span class="trans">Chinese is very useful, but it is very hard.</span>
* 我 喜欢 这 件 衣服 , <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 太 贵 了 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan zhè jiàn yīfu, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> tài gùi le.</span> <span class="trans">I like that piece of clothing, but it is too expensive.</span>
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* 我 喜欢 这 件 衣服 , <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 太 贵 了 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan zhè jiàn yīfu, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> tài guì le.</span> <span class="trans">I like that piece of clothing, but it is too expensive.</span>
 
* 我 给 他 打 电话 , <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 他 不 接 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ gěi tā dǎ diànhuà, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> tā bù jiē.</span> <span class="trans">I gave him a call, but he didn't answer.</span>
 
* 我 给 他 打 电话 , <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 他 不 接 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ gěi tā dǎ diànhuà, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> tā bù jiē.</span> <span class="trans">I gave him a call, but he didn't answer.</span>
 
* 我 喜欢 , <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 我 不 需要 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> wǒ bù xūyào.</span> <span class="trans">I like it, but I don't need it.</span>
 
* 我 喜欢 , <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 我 不 需要 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> wǒ bù xūyào.</span> <span class="trans">I like it, but I don't need it.</span>
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* 你 可以 去 , <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 不 是 现在 。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ qù, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> bù shì xiànzài.</span> <span class="trans">You can go, but not right now.</span>
 
* 你 可以 去 , <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 不 是 现在 。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ qù, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> bù shì xiànzài.</span> <span class="trans">You can go, but not right now.</span>
 
* 你 做 得 很 好 , <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 他 做 得 更 好 。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuò dé hěn hǎo, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> tā zuò dé gèng hǎo.</span> <span class="trans">You did very well, but he did even better.</span>
 
* 你 做 得 很 好 , <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 他 做 得 更 好 。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuò dé hěn hǎo, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> tā zuò dé gèng hǎo.</span> <span class="trans">You did very well, but he did even better.</span>
* 那 个 地方 很 漂亮 , <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 我 觉得 人 太 多 了 。 <span class="pinyin">Nà gè dìfang hěn piàoliang, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> wǒ juéde rén tài dūo le.</span> <span class="trans">That place is beautiful, but I think there are too many people there.</span>
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* 那 个 地方 很 漂亮 , <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 我 觉得 人 太 多 了 。 <span class="pinyin">Nà gè dìfang hěn piàoliang, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> wǒ juéde rén tài duō le.</span> <span class="trans">That place is beautiful, but I think there are too many people there.</span>
 
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Revision as of 03:08, 7 January 2015

Using "but" in Chinese is really simple and easy to learn. It involves two words 可是 (kěshì) and 但是 (dànshì). Make no "buts" about it; you'll understand it in no time!

Basic Pattern

There are two main words for "but" in Chinese: 可是 (kěshì) and 但是 (dànshì). These are largely the same. The small difference is that 可是 (kěshì) is a bit more formal and more common in northern China, whereas 但是 (dànshì) is more informal and a bit stronger in tone. You really don't need to worry about "which one is the right one to use" though. They can be used interchangeably.

Statement, 可是 / 但是 + [contrary statement]

Examples

Usually 可是 (kěshì) and 但是 (dànshì) precede a new phrase within a sentence:

  • 我 喜欢 他 , 可是 / 但是 他 不 喜欢 我 。 Wǒ xǐhuan tā, kěshì / dànshì tā bù xǐhuan wǒ. I like him, but he doesn't like me.
  • 我 很 想 去 , 可是 / 但是 我 很 忙 。 Wǒ hěn xiǎng qù, kěshì / dànshì wǒ hěn máng. I really want to go, but I am very busy.
  • 中文 很 有用 , 可是 / 但是 很 难 。 Zhōngwén hěn yǒu yòng, kěshì / dànshì hěn nán. Chinese is very useful, but it is very hard.
  • 我 喜欢 这 件 衣服 , 可是 / 但是 太 贵 了 。 Wǒ xǐhuan zhè jiàn yīfu, kěshì / dànshì tài guì le. I like that piece of clothing, but it is too expensive.
  • 我 给 他 打 电话 , 可是 / 但是 他 不 接 。 Wǒ gěi tā dǎ diànhuà, kěshì / dànshì tā bù jiē. I gave him a call, but he didn't answer.
  • 我 喜欢 , 可是 / 但是 我 不 需要 。 Wǒ xǐhuan, kěshì / dànshì wǒ bù xūyào. I like it, but I don't need it.
  • 在 这里 你 可以 看书 , 可是 / 但是 不 可以 聊天 。 Zài zhèlǐ nǐ kěyǐ kàn shū, kěshì / dànshì bù kěyǐ liáotiān. You can read books here, but you can't chat.
  • 你 可以 去 , 可是 / 但是 不 是 现在 。 Nǐ kěyǐ qù, kěshì / dànshì bù shì xiànzài. You can go, but not right now.
  • 你 做 得 很 好 , 可是 / 但是 他 做 得 更 好 。 Nǐ zuò dé hěn hǎo, kěshì / dànshì tā zuò dé gèng hǎo. You did very well, but he did even better.
  • 那 个 地方 很 漂亮 , 可是 / 但是 我 觉得 人 太 多 了 。 Nà gè dìfang hěn piàoliang, kěshì / dànshì wǒ juéde rén tài duō le. That place is beautiful, but I think there are too many people there.

Note: In informal spoken Chinese, 可是 (kěshì) can be shortened to 可 (kě), and 但是 (dànshì) can be shortened to 但 (dàn).

See also

Sources and further reading

Books