“But” in Chinese 1 – 但是 dànshì

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OneDotDot Chinese
Grammar · HSK 2
Grammar Point · HSK 2

但是 dànshì — “But”

但是 dànshì is the most common, all-purpose word for “but” in Chinese. It works in both speaking and writing, and it’s usually the first “but” word learners meet.

但是 dànshì Chinese grammar

但是 dànshì is a versatile, neutral word for expressing contrast — safe to use in almost any context. It’s often paired with 雖然 suīrán (“although”) in the first clause, and can shorten to 但 dàn in slightly formal writing.

1 Structure

Clause 1 + 但是 dànshì + Clause 2

Say what’s true first, then use 但是 dànshì to introduce something that contrasts with it.

我wǒ很hěn喜欢xǐhuan狗gǒu，但是dànshì不太bútài喜欢xǐhuan小孩xiǎohái
I really like dogs, but I’m not fond of children.
这个zhège菜cài很hěn辣là，但是dànshì很hěn好吃hǎochī
This dish is very spicy, but it’s delicious.
你nǐ是shì好人hǎorén，但dàn我们wǒmen只能zhǐnéng是shì朋友péngyou
You’re a good person, but we can only be friends. (但 dàn, the shortened form.)
Good to Know

好人卡 hǎorén kǎ (literally, a “good person card”) is internet slang that’s been around since the 1990s. It’s what people jokingly say happens after a romantic rejection — the other person calls them a “good person” as a polite way of saying no thanks. It’s the Chinese-language cousin of the Western “nice guy” trope.

这个zhège地方dìfāng风景fēngjǐng很美hěn měi，但dàn交通jiāotōng不太bútài方便fāngbiàn
The scenery in this place is beautiful, but the transportation isn’t very convenient.
我wǒ想xiǎng吃chī蛋糕dàngāo，但是dànshì我wǒ在zài减肥jiǎnféi
I want to eat cake, but I’m on a diet.
他tā很hěn帅shuài，但是dànshì他tā已经yǐjīng有yǒu女朋友nǚpéngyou了le
He’s handsome, but he already has a girlfriend.
今天jīntiān是shì我的wǒde生日shēngrì，但是dànshì没有人méiyǒurén记得jìde
Today is my birthday, but nobody remembered.

2 Practice

Translate each sentence into Chinese, then tap the card to check your answer.

01I like cats, but I don’t like dogs.
我wǒ喜欢xǐhuan猫māo，但是dànshì不bù喜欢xǐhuan狗gǒu
👆 Tap to reveal
02This dress is pretty, but it’s too expensive.
这件zhè jiàn洋装yángzhuāng很hěn漂亮piàoliang，但是dànshì太tài贵guì了le
👆 Tap to reveal
03He is smart, but he is very lazy.
他tā很hěn聪明cōngmíng，但是dànshì很hěn懒lǎn
👆 Tap to reveal
04I want to go, but I don’t have time.
我wǒ想xiǎng去qù，但是dànshì没有méiyǒu时间shíjiān
👆 Tap to reveal
05The weather is cold today, but I still want to go out.
今天jīntiān天气tiānqì很hěn冷lěng，但是dànshì我wǒ还是háishì想xiǎng出去chūqù
👆 Tap to reveal
06She sings beautifully, but she is very shy.
她tā唱歌chànggē很hěn好听hǎotīng，但是dànshì很hěn害羞hàixiū
👆 Tap to reveal
07This coffee is expensive, but it’s really good.
这杯zhè bēi咖啡kāfēi很hěn贵guì，但是dànshì真的zhēnde很hěn好喝hǎohē
👆 Tap to reveal
08I want to sleep, but I still have to work.
我wǒ想xiǎng睡觉shuìjiào，但是dànshì还要háiyào工作gōngzuò
👆 Tap to reveal

Related Grammar

→可是 kěshì — “But”(HSK 3) →不过 búguò — “But”(HSK 4) →然而 rán’ér — “However”(HSK 4)

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