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  6. <title>Two words for "but"</title>
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  10. <h1>Two words for "but"</h1>
  11. <p>Using "<b>but</b>" in Chinese is really simple to learn. It involves the two words <span class="hanzi">可是</span> (<span class="pinyin">kěshì</span>) and <span class="hanzi">但是 </span> <span class="pinyin">dànshì</span>). Make no "<b>buts</b>" about it: you'll understand it in no time!</p>
  12. <h2 id="structure">Structure</h2>
  13. <p>There are two main words for "<b>but</b>" in Chinese: <span class="hanzi">可是</span> (<span class="pinyin">kěshì</span>) and <span class="hanzi">但是</span> (<span class="pinyin">dànshì</span>). These are largely the same. The small difference is that <span class="hanzi">但是</span> (<span class="pinyin">dànshì</span>) is slightly more formal, whereas <span class="hanzi">可是 </span>(<span class="pinyin">kěshì</span>) 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.</p>
  14. <div class="deux">
  15. <p>Statement, <span class="hanzist">可是 / 但是</span> + [Contrary Statement]</p>
  16. </div>
  17. <h2 id="examples">Examples</h2>
  18. <p>Usually <span class="hanzi">可是</span> (<span class="pinyin">kěshì</span>) and <span class="hanzi">但是</span> (<span class="pinyin">dànshì</span>) precede a new phrase within a sentence:</p>
  19. <div class="exemple">
  20. <ul>
  21. <li><span class="hanzi">我 喜欢 他,<span class="fondjaune">可是</span> 他 不 喜欢 我。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan tā, <span class="fondjaune">kěshì</span> tā bù xǐhuan wǒ.</span> <br/>I like him, but he doesn't like me.</li>
  22. <li><span class="hanzi">我 很 想 去,<span class="fondjaune">但是</span> 我 太 忙 了。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ hěn xiǎng qù, <span class="fondjaune">dànshì</span> wǒ tài máng le.</span> <br/>I really want to go, but I am too busy.</li>
  23. <li><span class="hanzi">中文 很 有意思,<span class="fondjaune">但是</span> 也 很 难。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Zhōngwén hěn yǒuyìsi, <span class="fondjaune">dànshì</span> yě hěn nán.</span> <br/>Chinese is very interesting, but it is also very hard.</li>
  24. <li><span class="hanzi">我 喜欢 这 件 衬衫,<span class="fondjaune">可是</span> 太 贵 了。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ xǐhuan zhè jiàn chènshān, <span class="fondjaune">kěshì</span> tài guì le.</span> <br/>I like this shirt, but it is too expensive.</li>
  25. <li><span class="hanzi">老板 昨天 给 他 打 电话,<span class="fondjaune">可是</span> 他 没 接。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn zuótiān gěi tā dǎ diànhuà, <span class="fondjaune">kěshì</span> tā méi jiē.</span> <br/>The boss gave him a call yesterday, but he didn't answer.</li>
  26. <li><span class="hanzi">iPhone 很 好,<span class="fondjaune">但是</span> 我 没 钱 买。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">iPhone hěn hǎo, <span class="fondjaune">dànshì</span> wǒ méi qián mǎi.</span> <br/>The iPhone is great, but I don't have the money to buy it.</li>
  27. <li><span class="hanzi">你们 可以 在 这里 看书,<span class="fondjaune">可是</span> 不 可以 说话。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ zài zhèlǐ kàn shū, <span class="fondjaune">kěshì</span> bù kěyǐ shuōhuà.</span> <br/>You can read books here, but you can't talk.</li>
  28. <li><span class="hanzi">你 可以 吃, <span class="fondjaune">但是</span> 不 可以 吃 太 多。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ chī, <span class="fondjaune">dànshì</span> bù kěyǐ chī tài duō.</span> <br/>You can eat, but you can't eat too much.</li>
  29. <li><span class="hanzi">他 说 五 点 来 见 我,<span class="fondjaune">但是</span> 他 没 来。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Tā shuō wǔ diǎn lái jiàn wǒ, <span class="fondjaune">dànshì</span> tā méi lái.</span> <br/>He said he would come to see me at five, but he didn't.</li>
  30. <li><span class="hanzi">这 个 地方 很 漂亮,<span class="fondjaune">但是</span> 人 太 多 了。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Zhège dìfang hěn piàoliang, <span class="fondjaune">dànshì</span> rén tài duō le.</span> <br/>This place is beautiful, but there are too many people.</li>
  31. </ul>
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  33. <p>Note: In informal spoken Chinese, <span class="hanzi">可是</span> (<span class="pinyin">kěshì</span>) can be shortened to <span class="hanzi">可</span> (<span class="pinyin">kě</span>), and <span class="hanzi">但是</span> (<span class="pinyin">dànshì</span>) can be shortened to <span class="hanzi">但</span> (<span class="pinyin">dàn</span>).</p>
  34. <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
  35. <ul>
  36. <li><a href="A_Softer_&quot;But&quot;" title="wikilink">A Softer "But"</a></li>
  37. <li><a href="&quot;Although&quot;_with_&quot;suiran&quot;_and_&quot;danshi&quot;" title="wikilink">"Although" with "suiran" and "danshi"</a></li>
  38. </ul>
  39. <h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2>
  40. <h3 id="books">Books</h3>
  41. <ul>
  42. <li>Chinese Grammar - Broken down into 100 items - Basic and Intermediate Levels (<span class="hanzi">汉语语法百项讲练 - 初中级</span>)</li>
  43. </ul>
  44. <ul>
  45. <li>Chinese Reference Series for Foreigners - 1700 Groups of Frequently Used Chinese Synonyms (<span class="hanzi">外国人学汉语工具书</span> - <span class="hanzi">1700对近义词语用法对比</span>) (p.319)</li>
  46. </ul>
  47. <ul>
  48. <li><span class="hanzi">发展汉语 中级汉语口语上</span> (p. 3)</li>
  49. </ul>
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