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

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=== Books ===
 
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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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{{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}}
 
{{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}}
 
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{{Similar|A Softer "But"}}   
 
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{{Similar|"Although" with "suiran" and "danshi"}}
 
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{{Similar|Expressing "however" with "ran'er"}}
 
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{{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)