B1 Intermediate Conjunctions & Connectors

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

不过 (búguò) is the soft, informal “but”: 这个不错，不过有点贵 (“it's nice, but a bit pricey”). It does the same job as 但是 / 可是 but downplays the contrast, the way English “though” or “mind you” does, and it leads the second clause after the comma. Watch the word order: after a subject, 不过 flips to “merely.”

Why this trips learners up

Instead of the firm 但是 or 可是, you can soften a contrast with 不过 (búguò), a gentler, more conversational “but.” It's a conjunction that sits between two clauses, exactly like its stronger cousins: [Statement] ，不过 [contrary statement]. 这个不错，不过有点贵 (“it's nice, but a bit pricey”), 我想去，不过今天没空 (“I'd like to go, but I have no time today”).

The feel of 不过 is lighter than 但是. Where 但是 can carry a real opposition, 不过 tends to add a small qualification or afterthought, the kind you'd say with a shrug, like English “though,” “but then again,” or “mind you.” That makes it the everyday choice in speech: 这家店不错，不过有点远 sounds relaxed, while 但是太远了 lands as more of a dealbreaker.

Like every Chinese contrast word, 不过 leads the second clause, right after the comma. You can't park it at the end the way English tacks “though” on (有点贵不过 is wrong; it has to be 不过有点贵). And it connects two statements, not two nouns, so “I like tea but not coffee” is 我喜欢茶，不过不喜欢咖啡, never 我喜欢茶不过咖啡.

One trap worth flagging: there's a second 不过 meaning “merely / only” (他不过是个孩子, “he's only a kid”). That one sits after the subject, while the contrast “but” 不过 comes before it. So 不过他懒 means “but he's lazy,” whereas 他不过懒 means “he's merely lazy.” The position is the tell: lead the clause with 不过 and it's “but.”

The structure

Other 不过 búguò 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 Complement Time Negation Adverb Function word Adjective 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.

zhège shǒujī 这个手机 Subject bùcuò 不错 Adjective búguò 不过 Pattern yǒudiǎn 有点 Adverb zhòng 重 Adjective

This phone is good, but a bit heavy (the classic 不过有点 + adjective).

wǒ 我 Subject xiǎng 想 Function word qù 去 Verb búguò 不过 Pattern jīntiān 今天 Time méi 没 Negation shíjiān 时间 Object

I'd like to go, but I don't have time today (a plain soft contrast).

zhè jiā diàn de cài 这家店的菜 Subject hěn 很 Adverb hǎochī 好吃 Adjective búguò 不过 Pattern fúwù 服务 Subject yībān 一般 Adjective

The food at this place is delicious, but the service is so-so (a balanced judgment).

nǐ 你 Subject kěyǐ 可以 Function word yòng 用 Verb wǒ de chē 我的车 Object búguò 不过 Pattern yào 要 Function word xiǎoxīn 小心 Verb yīdiǎn 一点 Complement

You can use my car, but be a little careful (permission plus a gentle condition).

wǒ 我 Subject duì 对 Verb jiéguǒ 结果 Object bù tài 不太 Adverb mǎnyì 满意 Adjective búguò 不过 Pattern yǐjīng 已经 Adverb jìnlì 尽力 Verb le 了 Function word

I'm not very happy with the result, but I did my best (a consoling afterthought).

nǐ 你 Subject shuō 说 Verb de 得 Function word yǒu dàolǐ 有道理 Adjective búguò 不过 Pattern wǒ 我 Subject háishì 还是 Adverb yǒudiǎn 有点 Adverb dānxīn 担心 Adjective

What you say makes sense, but I'm still a bit worried (soft pushback after agreeing).

zhè bù diànyǐng 这部电影 Subject píngjià 评价 Subject hěn 很 Adverb gāo 高 Adjective búguò 不过 Pattern wǒ 我 Subject kàn 看 Verb le 了 Function word juéde 觉得 Verb hái hǎo 还好 Adjective

This movie got great reviews, but I watched it and thought it was just OK (a contrary opinion).

gāng kāishǐ xué zhōngwén de shíhou 刚开始学中文的时候 Time juéde 觉得 Verb hěn nán 很难 Adjective búguò 不过 Pattern jiānchí xiàlái 坚持下来 Verb jiù 就 Adverb fāxiàn 发现 Verb tǐng 挺 Adverb yǒuyìsi 有意思 Adjective de 的 Function word

Learning Chinese felt hard at first, but once I stuck with it I found it quite interesting (a change over time).

Common mistakes

Avoid: 这个手机不错，有点重不过。 zhège shǒujī bùcuò, yǒudiǎn zhòng búguò.

Say this: 这个手机不错，不过有点重。 zhège shǒujī bùcuò, búguò yǒudiǎn zhòng.

Why it happens: 不过 leads the second clause, after the comma. You can't park it at the end like English “…, though”: 这个手机不错，不过有点重, not …有点重不过.

Avoid: 我喜欢茶不过咖啡。 wǒ xǐhuan chá búguò kāfēi.

Say this: 我喜欢茶，不过不喜欢咖啡。 wǒ xǐhuan chá, búguò bù xǐhuan kāfēi.

Why it happens: 不过 contrasts two clauses, not two nouns. “I like tea but not coffee” needs two statements: 我喜欢茶，不过不喜欢咖啡, not 我喜欢茶不过咖啡.

Avoid: 他很聪明，他不过有点懒。 tā hěn cōngming, tā búguò yǒudiǎn lǎn.

Say this: 他很聪明，不过他有点懒。 tā hěn cōngming, búguò tā yǒudiǎn lǎn.

Why it happens: As the contrast “but,” 不过 leads the clause, before the subject. Put it after the subject (他不过) and it flips to the other 不过, “merely”: 他不过有点懒 reads as “he's merely a bit lazy.” For “but,” it's 不过他有点懒.

Compare & contrast

不过 (a soft, informal “but / though”)	但是 (a firmer, more neutral “but”)	The difference
这家店不错，不过有点远。zhè jiā diàn bùcuò, búguò yǒudiǎn yuǎn.	这家店不错，但是太远了。zhè jiā diàn bùcuò, dànshì tài yuǎn le.	这家店不错，不过有点远 is a gentle “nice, though a bit far,” the kind of thing you'd shrug off. 这家店不错，但是太远了 is firmer, “nice, but too far,” more of a dealbreaker.
我同意，不过有个小问题。wǒ tóngyì, búguò yǒu gè xiǎo wèntí.	我同意，但是有个大问题。wǒ tóngyì, dànshì yǒu gè dà wèntí.	我同意，不过有个小问题 softens it to “I agree, though there's a small issue.” 我同意，但是有个大问题 carries real weight: “I agree, but there's a big problem.”

Rule of thumbReach for 不过 when the contrast is light, an afterthought or a small qualification you'd say with a shrug (“nice, though a bit far”). Use 但是 when it carries more weight, or when you're writing. Same slot, but 不过 softens and 但是 stands firmer.

Try it yourself

Say “This phone is good, but a bit heavy.” Use 不过 to lead the second clause.

Related patterns

Quick reference card

How to Say a Softer “But” with 不过 (búguò) grammar.merrymandarin.com

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

Structure

Other + 不过 + Other

Example

这个手机不错不过有点重

This phone is good, but a bit heavy (the classic 不过有点 + adjective).

Watch out

✗ 这个手机不错，有点重不过。 → ✓ 这个手机不错，不过有点重。