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.

<div class="jiegou">
Statement， 可是 / 但是 + \[Contrary Statement\]

</div>
Examples
--------

Usually 可是 (kěshì) and 但是 (dànshì) precede a new phrase within a
sentence:

<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>
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>
-   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>

</div>
**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"](A_Softer_"But" "wikilink")
-   ["Although" with "suiran" and
    "danshi"]("Although"_with_"suiran"_and_"danshi" "wikilink")

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)](Chinese_Grammar_-_Broken_down_into_100_items_-_Basic_and_Intermediate_Levels_(汉语语法百项讲练_-_初中级) "wikilink") (pp.
    254-5)
    [→buy](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)

<!-- -->

-   [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)](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) "wikilink") (p.319)

<!-- -->

-   [发展汉语 中级汉语口语上](发展汉语_中级汉语口语上 "wikilink") (p.
    3)[→buy](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)

[Category:A2 grammar points](Category:A2_grammar_points "wikilink")