How to say “but” in Chinese: 但是(dàn​shì)，可是(kě​shì)，不过(bù​guò)

In this post we look at 但是，可是，不过, which mean “but”, “however” or “while”

The pronunciation is as follows:

• 但dàn是shì (dàn​shì)
• 可kě是shì (kě​shì)
• 不bù过guò (bù​guò)

While all of these have a similar meaning, there are slight differences between them..

Let’s look at some examples:

although….. but……	….. but……
虽suī然rán有yǒu工gōng作zuò，,但dàn是shì没méi有yǒu钱qián suī​rán yǒu gōng​zuò, dàn​shì méi​yǒu qián Although he has a job, but doesn’t have money	有yǒu工gōng作zuò，,但dàn是shì没méi有yǒu钱qián yǒu gōng​zuò, dàn​shì méi​yǒu qián He has a job, but doesn’t have money
虽suī然rán她tā结jié婚hūn了le，,可kě是shì又yòu想xiǎng离lí婚hūn suī​rán tā jié​hūn le, kě​shì yòu xiǎng lí​hūn Although she is married, but wants a divorce	她tā结jié婚hūn了le，,可kě是shì又yòu想xiǎng离lí婚hūn tā jié​hūn le, kě​shì yòu xiǎng lí​hūn She is married, but wants a divorce
虽suī然rán她tā没méi有yǒu经jīng验yàn，,不bù过guò他tā很hěn聪cōng明ming suī​rán tā méi​yǒu jīng​yàn, bù​guò tā hěn cōng​ming Although she doesn’t have experience, but is very smart	她tā没méi有yǒu经jīng验yàn，,不bù过guò他tā很hěn聪cōng明ming tā méi​yǒu jīng​yàn, bù​guò tā hěn cōng​ming She doesn’t have experience, but is very smart

但是 (dàn​shì)

These are the main attributes of “但是” ():

• Is often used in written Chinese.
• Interchangeable with 可kě是shì (kě​shì)
• Emphasises the second part of the sentence (clause) that follows 但dàn是shì (dàn​shì)
• Has a high degree of difference between the two parts of the sentence (clauses), for example:
• Example:
  He has a job, but doesn’t have money 有yǒu工gōng作zuò，,但dàn是shì没méi有yǒu钱qián (yǒu gōng​zuò, dàn​shì méi​yǒu qián)

可是 (kě​shì)

• Is often used in spoken Chinese.
• Interchangeable with 但dàn是shì (dàn​shì)
• Emphasises the second part of the sentence (clause) that follows 可kě是shì (kě​shì)
• Has a high degree of difference between the two parts of the sentence (clauses), for example:
• Example:
  She is married, but wants a divorce 她tā结jié婚hūn了le，,可kě是shì又yòu想xiǎng离lí婚hūn (tā jié​hūn le, kě​shì yòu xiǎng lí​hūn)

不过 (bù​guò)

• Is often used in spoken Chinese.
• Emphasises the second part of the sentence (clause) that follows 不bù过guò (bù​guò)
• Has a very high degree of difference between the two parts of the sentence (clauses), for example:
• Example:
  She doesn’t have experience, but is very smart 她tā没méi有yǒu经jīng验yàn，,不bù过guò他tā很hěn聪cōng明ming (tā méi​yǒu jīng​yàn, bù​guò tā hěn cōng​ming)