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

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* 你们 可以 在 这里  看书 , <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 不 可以 聊天。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ kàn shū, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> bù kěyǐ liáotiān.</span> <span class="trans">You can read books here, but you can't chat.</span>
 
* 你们 可以 在 这里  看书 , <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 不 可以 聊天。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ kàn shū, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> bù kěyǐ liáotiān.</span> <span class="trans">You can read books here, but you can't chat.</span>
 
* 你 可以 吃 , <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 不 可以 吃 太 多 。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ chī, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> bù kěyǐ chī tài duō.</span> <span class="trans">You can eat, but you can't eat too much.</span>
 
* 你 可以 吃 , <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 不 可以 吃 太 多 。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ chī, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> bù kěyǐ chī tài duō.</span> <span class="trans">You can eat, but you can't eat too much.</span>
*  他 说 五点 过来 见 我, <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 他 没 来。 <span class="pinyin">Nǐ zuò de hěn hǎo, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> tā zuò de gèng hǎo.</span> <span class="trans">You did very well, but he did even better.</span>
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*  他 说 五点 见 我, <em>可是</em> / <em>但是</em> 他 没 来。 <span class="pinyin">Tā shuō wǔdiǎn lái jiàn wǒ, <em>kěshì</em> / <em>dànshì</em> tā méi lái.</span> <span class="trans">He said he would come to see me but he didn't.</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 ge 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>
 
* 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 ge 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 08:43, 25 September 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 太 忙 了。 Wǒ hěn xiǎng qù, kěshì / dànshì wǒ tài máng le. I really want to go, but I am too busy.
  • 中文 很 有意思 , 可是 / 但是 很 难 。 Zhōngwén hěn yǒuyìsi, kěshì / dànshì yě hěn nán. Chinese is very interesting, but it is also 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.
  • 老板 昨天 给 他 打 电话 , 可是 / 但是 他 没 接 。 Lǎobǎn zuótiān gěi tā dǎ diànhuà, kěshì / dànshì tā méi jiē. The boss gave him a call yeaterday, but he didn't answer.
  • 这个 手机 很好, 可是 / 但是 我 不 需要 。 Zhè ge shǒujī hěnhǎo, kěshì / dànshì wǒ bù xūyào. This cellphone is great, but I don't need it.
  • 你们 可以 在 这里 看书 , 可是 / 但是 不 可以 聊天。 Nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ kàn shū, kěshì / dànshì bù kěyǐ liáotiān. You can read books here, but you can't chat.
  • 你 可以 吃 , 可是 / 但是 不 可以 吃 太 多 。 Nǐ kěyǐ chī, kěshì / dànshì bù kěyǐ chī tài duō. You can eat, but you can't eat too much.
  • 他 说 五点 来 见 我, 可是 / 但是 他 没 来。 Tā shuō wǔdiǎn lái jiàn wǒ, kěshì / dànshì tā méi lái. He said he would come to see me but he didn't.
  • 那 个 地方 很 漂亮 , 可是 / 但是 我 觉得 人 太 多 了 。 Nà ge 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