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

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{{Grammar Box}}
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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!
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Using "but" in Chinese is really simple to learn. It involves the two words 可是 (kěshì) and 但是 (dànshì). Make no "buts" about it; you'll understand it in no time!
  
== Basic Pattern ==
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== Structure ==
  
There are two main words for "but" in Chinese: 可是 (kěshì) and 但是 (dànshì). These are largely the same, with some small differences:
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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 但是 (dànshì) is slightly more formal, whereas 可是 (kěshì) is just a bit more informal and a tad weaker in tone.  You really don't need to worry about which one is the right one to use though, since they can be used interchangeably.
  
{| class="wikitable"style="width:100%"
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<div class="jiegou">
|可是 vs 但是
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|-
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Statement, 可是 / 但是 + [Contrary Statement]
| 可是 || 但是
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|-
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</div>
| Lighter || Stronger
 
|-
 
| Less formal || More formal
 
|-
 
| Used more in speech || Used more in writing
 
|-
 
| Used more in the north || Used more in the south
 
|}
 
  
 
== Examples ==
 
== Examples ==
  
Usually 可是 and 但是 precede a new phrase within a sentence:
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Usually 可是 (kěshì) and 但是 (dànshì) precede a new phrase within a sentence:
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 +
*我 喜欢 他,<em>可是</em> 他 不 喜欢 我。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan tā, <em>kěshì</em> tā bù xǐhuan wǒ.</span><span class="trans">I like him, but he doesn't like me.</span>
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*我 很 想 去,<em>但是</em> 我 太 忙 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ hěn xiǎng qù, <em>dànshì</em> wǒ tài máng le.</span><span class="trans">I really want to go, but I am too busy.</span>
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*中文 很 有意思,<em>但是</em> 也 很 难。<span class="pinyin">Zhōngwén hěn yǒuyìsi, <em>dànshì</em> yě hěn nán.</span><span class="trans">Chinese is very interesting, but it is also very hard.</span>
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*我 喜欢 这 件 衬衫,<em>可是</em> 太 贵 了。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan zhè jiàn chènshān, <em>kěshì</em> tài guì le.</span><span class="trans">I like this shirt, but it is too expensive.</span>
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*老板 昨天 给 他 打 电话,<em>可是</em> 他 没 接。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn zuótiān gěi tā dǎ diànhuà, <em>kěshì</em> tā méi jiē.</span><span class="trans">The boss gave him a call yesterday, but he didn't answer.</span>
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*iPhone 很 好,<em>但是</em> 我 没 钱 买。<span class="pinyin">iPhone hěn hǎo, <em>dànshì</em> wǒ méi qián mǎi.</span><span class="trans">The iPhone is great, but I don't have the money to buy it.</span>
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*你们 可以 在 这里  看书,<em>可是</em> 不 可以 说话。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ kàn shū, <em>kěshì</em> bù kěyǐ shuōhuà.</span><span class="trans">You can read books here, but you can't talk.</span>
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*你 可以 吃, <em>但是</em> 不 可以 吃 太 多。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ chī, <em>dànshì</em> bù kěyǐ chī tài duō.</span><span class="trans">You can eat, but you can't eat too much.</span>
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*他 说 五 点 来 见 我,<em>但是</em> 他 没 来。<span class="pinyin">Tā shuō wǔ diǎn lái jiàn wǒ, <em>dànshì</em> tā méi lái.</span><span class="trans">He said he would come to see me at five, but he didn't.</span>
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*这 个 地方 很 漂亮,<em>但是</em> 人 太 多 了。<span class="pinyin">Zhège dìfang hěn piàoliang, <em>dànshì</em> rén tài duō le.</span><span class="trans">This place is beautiful, but there are too many people.</span>
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</div>
  
* 我 喜欢,<em>但是</em> 我 不 需要。<span class="trans">I like it, but I don't need it</span>
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'''Note:''' In informal spoken Chinese, 可是 (kěshì) can be shortened to 可 (kě), and 但是 (dànshì) can be shortened to 但 (dàn).
* 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>
 
* 公司 会 给 你 加 工资,<em>但是</em> 不 是 现在。
 
* 你 做 得 很 好,<em>但是</em> 他 做 得 更 好。
 
* 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>
 
* 我 很 想 去,<em>可是</em> 我 很 忙。
 
* <em>可是</em> 他 不 喜欢 我 怎么办?
 
* 中文 很 有用,<em>可是</em> 很 难。
 
* 我 喜欢 这 件 衣服,<em>可是</em> 太 贵 了。
 
* 我 给 他 打 电话,<em>可是</em> 他 不 接。
 
 
 
</div>
 
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)]] (pp. 254 - 5) [http://www.amazon.cn/gp/product/B004WA6JSQ/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B004WA6JSQ →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 4上|108}}
*[[发展汉语 中级汉语口语上]] (pp. 3)
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{{Source|Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)|254-5}}
  
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{{Source|Chinese Reference Series for Foreigners - 1700 Groups of Frequently Used Chinese Synonyms (外国人学汉语工具书 - 1700对近义词语用法对比)]] (p.319)
  
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{{Source|发展汉语 中级汉语口语上|3}}
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|但是|A2|……,但是 / 可是……|我 喜欢,<em>但是</em> 需要。|grammar point|ASGUD81S}}
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{{HSK|HSK4}}
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{{Basic Grammar|但是|A2|……,可是 / 但是……|我 喜欢 他,<em>可是</em>/<em>但是</em> 喜欢 我。|grammar point|ASGUD81S}}
 
{{Rel char|可是}}
 
{{Rel char|可是}}
{{Rel char|是}}
 
 
{{Rel char|但}}
 
{{Rel char|但}}
 
{{Rel char|可}}
 
{{Rel char|可}}
 
{{Similar|A Softer "But"}}   
 
{{Similar|A Softer "But"}}   
 
{{Similar|"Although" with "suiran" and "danshi"}}
 
{{Similar|"Although" with "suiran" and "danshi"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "however" with "ran'er"}}
 
{{POS|Conjunctions}}
 
{{POS|Conjunctions}}
{{Used for|Giving alternatives}}
 
 
{{Used for|Connecting ideas}}
 
{{Used for|Connecting ideas}}
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{{Used for|Contrasting}}
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{{Translation|although}}
 
{{Translation|but}}
 
{{Translation|but}}

Latest revision as of 04:48, 9 March 2019

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

Structure

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 但是 (dànshì) is slightly more formal, whereas 可是 (kěshì) is just a bit more informal and a tad weaker in tone. You really don't need to worry about which one is the right one to use though, since 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 他 不 喜欢 我。Wǒ xǐhuan tā, kěshì tā bù xǐhuan wǒ.I like him, but he doesn't like me.
  • 我 很 想 去,但是 我 太 忙 了。Wǒ hěn xiǎng qù, dànshì wǒ tài máng le.I really want to go, but I am too busy.
  • 中文 很 有意思,但是 也 很 难。Zhōngwén hěn yǒuyìsi, dànshì yě hěn nán.Chinese is very interesting, but it is also very hard.
  • 我 喜欢 这 件 衬衫,可是 太 贵 了。Wǒ xǐhuan zhè jiàn chènshān, kěshì tài guì le.I like this shirt, but it is too expensive.
  • 老板 昨天 给 他 打 电话,可是 他 没 接。Lǎobǎn zuótiān gěi tā dǎ diànhuà, kěshì tā méi jiē.The boss gave him a call yesterday, but he didn't answer.
  • iPhone 很 好,但是 我 没 钱 买。iPhone hěn hǎo, dànshì wǒ méi qián mǎi.The iPhone is great, but I don't have the money to buy it.
  • 你们 可以 在 这里 看书,可是 不 可以 说话。Nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ kàn shū, kěshì bù kěyǐ shuōhuà.You can read books here, but you can't talk.
  • 你 可以 吃, 但是 不 可以 吃 太 多。Nǐ kěyǐ chī, dànshì bù kěyǐ chī tài duō.You can eat, but you can't eat too much.
  • 他 说 五 点 来 见 我,但是 他 没 来。Tā shuō wǔ diǎn lái jiàn wǒ, dànshì tā méi lái.He said he would come to see me at five, but he didn't.
  • 这 个 地方 很 漂亮,但是 人 太 多 了。Zhège dìfang hěn piàoliang, dànshì rén tài duō le.This place is beautiful, but there are too many people.

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

{{Source|Chinese Reference Series for Foreigners - 1700 Groups of Frequently Used Chinese Synonyms (外国人学汉语工具书 - 1700对近义词语用法对比)]] (p.319)