“But” in Chinese

Grammar Point:
The words 不過过 búguò, 但是 dànshì, and 可是 kěshì can all be used to express the meaning of “but” in Chinese, but they have slight differences in usage and tone.

Difference

但是 dànshì

This is a common and versatile word used to express contrast or contradiction in both spoken and written language. It can also be shortened to 但 dàn, which is often used in slightly formal written contexts.

我wǒ很hěn喜歡xǐhuān狗gǒu但是dànshì不bú太tài喜歡xǐhuān小孩xiǎohái我wǒ很hěn喜欢xǐhuan狗gǒu但是dànshì不bú太tài喜欢xǐhuan小孩xiǎohái
I really like dogs, but I’m not fond of children.

這個zhège菜cài很hěn辣là但是dànshì很hěn好吃hǎochī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我們wǒmen只zhǐ能néng是shì朋友péngyǒu你nǐ是shì好人hǎorén但dàn我们wǒmen只zhǐ能néng是shì朋友péngyou
You’re a good person, but we can only be friends.

FYI
The term 好人卡 hǎorén kǎ in Chinese. It translates to “Good Person Card” in English. The “good person” culture is a subculture that emerged within internet culture since the 1990s. It’s all about dating and relationships. Basically, in this culture, if someone does brave, kind, and helpful things, they’re considered a “good person.” But here’s the twist: when a woman turns down a guy’s romantic advances, she may call him a “good person” but not someone she wants to date. That’s what they call “giving a good person card.” It’s kind of like the “nice guy” culture in the West.

這個zhège地方dìfāng風景fēngjǐng很hěn美měi， 但dàn交通jiāotōng不bú太tài方便fāngbiàn这个zhège地方dìfāng风景fēngjǐng很hěn美měi， 但dàn交通jiāotōng不bú太tài方便fāngbiàn
The scenery in this place is beautiful, but the transportation is not very convenient.

可是 kěshì

This word is similar in meaning and usage to 但是 dànshì, but it is slightly more informal in comparison. It is also suitable for both spoken and written language. It can also be shortened to 可 kě, which is often used in slightly formal written contexts.

我wǒ想xiǎng去qù旅行lǚxíng， 可是kěshì我wǒ沒méi時間shíjiān也yě沒méi錢qián我wǒ想xiǎng去qù旅行lǚxíng， 可是kěshì我wǒ没méi时间shíjiān也yě没méi钱qián
I want to travel, but I don’t have the time or money.

她tā想xiǎng減肥jiǎnféi， 可是kěshì從不cóngbú運動yùndòng她tā想xiǎng减肥jiǎnféi， 可是kěshì从不cóngbú运动yùndòng
She wants to lose weight but never exercises.

為什麼wèishénme你nǐ吃chī這麼zhème多duō可是kěshì還是háishì很hěn瘦shòu？ 为什么wèishénme你nǐ吃chī这么zhème多duō可是kěshì还是háishì很hěn瘦shòu？
Why do you eat so much but still stay slim?

我wǒ打算dǎsuàn退休tuìxiū， 可kě我wǒ太太tàitài說shuō不bù行xíng我wǒ打算dǎsuàn退休tuìxiū， 可kě我wǒ太太tàitài说shuō不bù行xíng
I plan to retire, but my wife says no.

不過/不过 búguò

This word functions as a softer form of ‘but.’ It is often used in a more casual or informal context and can imply a lighter contrast.

這zhè本běn書shū有點yǒudiǎn貴guì， 不過búguò很hěn多duō人rén推薦tuījiàn这zhè本běn书shū有点儿yǒudiǎnr贵guì， 不过búguò很hěn多duō人rén推荐tuījiàn
This book is a bit expensive, but many people recommend it.

我wǒ也yě想xiǎng去qù你的nǐde派對pàiduì， 不過búguò我wǒ真的zhēnde不bù想xiǎng見到jiàndào我wǒ也yě想xiǎng去qù你的nǐde派对pàiduì， 不过búguò我wǒ真的zhēnde不bù想xiǎng见到jiàndàoTiffany
I also want to go to your party, but I really don’t want to see Tiffany.

狗gǒu真的zhēnde很hěn可愛kěài， 不過búguò還是háishì有yǒu很hěn頭痛tóutòng的時候deshíhòu狗gǒu真的zhēnde很hěn可爱kěài， 不过búguò还是háishì有yǒu很hěn头痛tóutòng的时候deshíhou
Dogs are really cute, but they can still be a handful at times.

我wǒ不能bùnéng給gěi你nǐ錢qián， 不過búguò我wǒ可以kěyǐ教jiāo你nǐ怎麼zěnme賺錢zhuànqián我wǒ不能bùnéng给gěi你nǐ钱qián， 不过búguò我wǒ可以kěyǐ教jiāo你nǐ怎么zěnme挣钱zhèngnqián
I can’t give you money, but I can teach you how to make money.

Practice

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✔️ I really want to drink bubble tea, but there are no shops nearby that sell it.

我wǒ很hěn想xiǎng喝hē珍珠奶茶zhēnzhūnǎichá， 可是kěshì我wǒ家jiā附近fùjìn都dōu沒méi賣mài我wǒ很hěn想xiǎng喝hē珍珠奶茶zhēnzhūnǎichá， 可是kěshì我wǒ家jiā附近fùjìn都dōu没méi卖mài

✔️ I feel like I’m catching a cold, but it’s not too severe.

我wǒ好像hǎoxiàng感冒gǎnmào了le， 不過búguò不bú太tài嚴重yánzhòng我wǒ好像hǎoxiàng感冒gǎnmào了le， 不过búguò不bú太tài严重yánzhòng

✔️ I’m available tomorrow, but I can’t do it in the evening.

我wǒ明天míngtiān有空yǒukòng， 但是dànshì晚上wǎnshàng不bù行xíng我wǒ明天míngtiān有空yǒukòng， 但是dànshì晚上wǎnshang不bù行xíng