{{Grammar Box}} 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== *[[A Softer "But"]] *[["Although" with "suiran" and "danshi"]] == Sources and further reading == === 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] * [[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) *[[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] [[Category:A2 grammar points]] {{Basic Grammar|但是|A2|……，可是 / 但是……|我 喜欢 他，可是/但是 他 不 喜欢 我。|grammar point|ASGUD81S}} {{Rel char|可是}} {{Rel char|但}} {{Rel char|可}} {{Similar|A Softer "But"}} {{Similar|"Although" with "suiran" and "danshi"}} {{POS|Conjunctions}} {{Used for|Connecting ideas}} {{Used for|Contrasting}} {{Translation|although}} {{Translation|but}}