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

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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!
 
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.  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.
 
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.
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<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 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>
*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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*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>
*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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*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>
 
*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>
 
*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>
 
*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>
 
*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>
*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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*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>
*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>
*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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*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>
 
*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>
 
*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>
 
*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>
 
*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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=== 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}}
  
* [[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|Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级)|254-5}}
  
*[[发展汉语 中级汉语口语上]] (p. 3)[http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8F%91%E5%B1%95%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E4%B8%AD%E7%BA%A7%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%8F%A3%E8%AF%AD%E4%B8%8A-%E8%B7%AF%E5%BF%97%E8%8B%B1/dp/B00116EQGQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=1395309042&sr=8-1&keywords=%E5%8F%91%E5%B1%95%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E4%B8%AD%E7%BA%A7%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%8F%A3%E8%AF%AD+%E4%B8%8A →buy]
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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|Statement,可是/但是 + Transitional Statement|我 喜欢 他,<em>可是</em>/<em>但是</em> 他 不 喜欢 我。|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> 他 不 喜欢 我。|grammar point|ASGUD81S}}
 
{{Rel char|可是}}
 
{{Rel char|可是}}
 
{{Rel char|但}}
 
{{Rel char|但}}
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{{Similar|A Softer "But"}}   
 
{{Similar|A Softer "But"}}   
 
{{Similar|"Although" with "suiran" and "danshi"}}
 
{{Similar|"Although" with "suiran" and "danshi"}}
 +
{{Similar|Expressing "however" with "ran'er"}}
 
{{POS|Conjunctions}}
 
{{POS|Conjunctions}}
 
{{Used for|Connecting ideas}}
 
{{Used for|Connecting ideas}}

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)