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A2 Intermediate Conjunctions & Connectors

可是 / 但是 (kěshì / dànshì): How to Say “But” in Chinese

Chinese has two everyday words for “but”, and they're interchangeable: 可是 (kěshì) and 但是 (dànshì). Statement，可是/但是 + the contrary statement (我想去，但是太忙了 = “I want to go, but I'm too busy”). 可是 is a touch softer, 但是 a touch more formal.

Why this trips learners up

Good news on how to say “but” in Chinese: there are two common words and they're essentially interchangeable — 可是 (kěshì) and 但是 (dànshì). Both bridge a statement and a contrary one: Statement，可是 / 但是 + [contrary statement]. 我想去，但是太忙了 = “I want to go, but I'm too busy.” Pick whichever you like; the only nuance is tone — 可是 is a little softer and more spoken, 但是 a touch more formal (and the default in writing).

Two things to lock in. First, the “but” word leads the second clause — it comes right after the comma, in front of the contrary statement, never tacked on at the end like English “…, though.” Second, both have clipped forms for casual use: 可是 → 可, 但是 → 但 (你可以吃，但别吃太多). You'll also meet 但是 paired with 虽然 (“although”) — 虽然…但是… — where Chinese, unlike English, keeps the “but”.

The structure

Other 但是 dànshì Other
Colour key

Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.

Pattern Subject Verb Object Time Place Negation Adverb Function word Adjective Connector Other

Examples in context

Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.

Tap a word to see its grammatical role.

wǒ 我 Subject xiǎng 想 Function word mǎi 买 Verb dànshì 但是 Pattern méi 没 Negation dài 带 Verb qián 钱 Object

I want to buy it, but I didn't bring any money.

zhè jiā diàn 这家店 Place dōngxi 东西 Subject hěn 很 Adverb hǎo 好 Adjective kěshì 可是 Pattern yǒudiǎn 有点 Adverb yuǎn 远 Adjective

This shop's things are great, but it's a bit far.

tā 他 Subject hěn 很 Adverb cōngmíng 聪明 Adjective dànshì 但是 Pattern bùtài 不太 Adverb nǔlì 努力 Adjective

He's smart, but not very hardworking.

wǒ 我 Subject huì 会 Function word zuòfàn 做饭 Verb kěshì 可是 Pattern zuò 做 Verb de 得 Function word bù 不 Negation hǎochī 好吃 Adjective

I can cook, but not very well.

jīntiān 今天 Time tiānqì 天气 Subject hěn 很 Adverb hǎo 好 Adjective dànshì 但是 Pattern yǒudiǎn 有点 Adverb lěng 冷 Adjective

The weather's lovely today, but it's a bit cold.

wǒ 我 Subject děng 等 Verb le 了 Function word tā 她 Object bàn gè xiǎoshí 半个小时 Time kě 可 Pattern tā 她 Subject yìzhí 一直 Adverb méi 没 Negation lái 来 Verb

I waited half an hour for her, but she never came.

zhè bù diànyǐng 这部电影 Subject píngjià 评价 Subject hěn 很 Adverb gāo 高 Adjective dàn 但 Pattern wǒ 我 Subject juéde 觉得 Verb hěn 很 Adverb yìbān 一般 Adjective

This film is highly rated, but I think it's pretty average.

suīrán 虽然 Connector zhège gōngzuò 这个工作 Subject hěn 很 Adverb lèi 累 Adjective dànshì 但是 Pattern wǒ 我 Subject hěn 很 Adverb xǐhuan 喜欢 Verb

Although this job is tiring, I really like it.

Common mistakes

Avoid: 我想去，我很忙但是。 wǒ xiǎng qù, wǒ hěn máng dànshì.
Say this: 我想去，但是我很忙。 wǒ xiǎng qù, dànshì wǒ hěn máng.

Why it happens: The “but” word leads the second clause — straight after the comma, in front of the contrary statement. “I want to go, but I'm busy” is 我想去，但是我很忙, not 我想去，我很忙但是. Unlike English “…, though”, Chinese never parks it at the end.

Avoid: 这家很好吃，但是很便宜。 zhè jiā hěn hǎochī, dànshì hěn piányi.
Say this: 这家很好吃，而且很便宜。 zhè jiā hěn hǎochī, érqiě hěn piányi.

Why it happens: 但是 needs a real contrast — the second part has to push against the first. “Tasty and cheap” are both upsides, so that's 而且 (“and what's more”): 这家很好吃，而且很便宜. Save 但是 for an actual catch or turn.

Avoid: 我想去，可以我没时间。 wǒ xiǎng qù, kěyǐ wǒ méi shíjiān.
Say this: 我想去，可是我没时间。 wǒ xiǎng qù, kěshì wǒ méi shíjiān.

Why it happens: Don't mix up 可是 (“but”) with 可以 (“can”) — they share the 可 but do opposite jobs. “I want to go, but I've no time” is 我想去，可是我没时间; swapping in 可以 (“can”) there makes no sense.

Compare & contrast

可是 / 可 — softer, more spoken但是 / 但 — a touch more formalThe difference
我想去，可是没空。wǒ xiǎng qù, kěshì méi kòng.我想去，但是没空。wǒ xiǎng qù, dànshì méi kòng.我想去，可是没空 — 可是 (clipped: 可) leans casual and gentle. 我想去，但是没空 — 但是 (clipped: 但) is the neutral, everywhere-safe choice.
东西不错，可是太贵了。dōngxi bùcuò, kěshì tài guì le.东西不错，但是太贵了。dōngxi bùcuò, dànshì tài guì le.东西不错，可是太贵了 — chatty and spoken. 东西不错，但是太贵了 — a hair more formal, and 但 is what you'll see in writing.
Rule of thumbThey mean the same and swap freely. 可是 (short form 可) is a little softer and more spoken; 但是 (short form 但) is slightly more formal and the default in writing. When in doubt, 但是 is always fine.

Try it yourself

Say “I really like it, but it's too expensive” (…但是…) — tap the words into order.

Related patterns

又…又又…又… (yòu…yòu…): How to Say “Both … and …”

The flip of 又…又…: that stacks two qualities the same way (“both”), 但是 turns to the opposite one (“but”).

 有点有点 (yǒudiǎn): How to Say “A Bit Too…” (a Complaint)

The classic “but” follow-up: 很好，但是有点贵 (“great, but a bit too pricey”) — a compliment, then the catch.

 就就 (jiù): How to Say “Then” / “So”

Two ways a second clause can relate to the first: 就 draws a consequence (“so”), 但是 a contrast (“but”).

 和How to Say “And” with 和 (hé)

和 links things going the same way (“and”); 但是 links a clause that pushes back (“but”).

 好吧好吧 / 行吧: How to Concede with 吧 (“Fine Then”)

The classic concession combo: 好吧，但是… (“fine, but…”) — grudging agreement, then your condition.

 因为…所以Cause and Effect: 因为…所以… (“Because… So…”)

Another two-clause connector — and like 因为…所以…, the contrast pair 虽然…但是… also keeps both halves, unlike English.

 结果How to Say “As a Result” with 结果 (jiéguǒ)

Both can carry a letdown: 但是 contrasts two facts (“but”); 结果 frames the second as the (often disappointing) result of the first.

 不过How to Say a Softer “But” with 不过 (búguò)

The softer sibling: 但是 / 可是 are the firm, everyday “but,” while 不过 downplays the contrast into a light “though” (不过有点贵). Same slot, gentler feel.

 虽然…但是How to Say “Although” in Chinese (虽然……但是)

The concession frame built on this “but.” 虽然…但是… puts 但是 / 可是 to work after 虽然 sets up a fact you concede (虽然贵，但是我买了). Same “but,” now with an “although” in front.

 一方面…另一方面How to Say “On One Hand, On the Other” in Chinese (一方面……另一方面)

The contrast inside a balancing frame. When 一方面…另一方面… weighs a trade-off, the second aspect pulls against the first like a 但是: 一方面便宜，另一方面质量差. 一方面 lists the two sides; 但是 just flags the turn.

 可How to Emphasize with 可 (kě)

The look-alike to keep apart. Here 可 (in 可是 / 可) is the conjunction “but” (我想去，可是没时间); the emphatic 可 is a different word that sits right before an adjective or verb and leans on 了 (可好了, “so good!”). Same character, two unrelated jobs, told apart by position.

 尽管How to Say “Even Though” with 尽管 (jǐnguǎn)

The answer this concession takes. 尽管 (“even though”) happily pairs with 但 / 但是 in the second clause: 尽管他很有钱，但生活很简单. English keeps only the “although”; Chinese keeps both halves.

 本来How to Say “Originally / All Along” with 本来 (běnlái)

What the “but” answers. In its change-of-plans use, 本来 lays out the original plan and 但是 / 可是 / 不过 delivers the twist: 我本来想去，但是下雨了. 本来 opens “at first…,” the “but” word closes “…then this.”

 而How to Say “But Rather” with 而 (ér)

The balanced-contrast twin. 但是 marks a turn against expectation (她很受欢迎，但是我不喜欢她); 而 gives an even “whereas” and, crucially, the “not A but B” substitution 不是…而是, where 但是 can't go (不是道歉，而是行动). 但是 opposes; 而是 replaces.
Quick reference card
Merry Mandarin 可是 / 但是 (kěshì / dànshì): How to Say “But” in Chinese grammar.merrymandarin.com

A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.

Structure
Other + 但是 + Other
Example
我想买但是没带钱
I want to buy it, but I didn't bring any money.
Watch out
✗ 我想去，我很忙但是。  →  ✓ 我想去，但是我很忙。