“But” in Chinese 2 – 可是 kěshì

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OneDotDot Chinese
Grammar · HSK 3
Grammar Point · HSK 3

可是 kěshì — “But”

可是 kěshì means roughly the same thing as 但是 dànshì, but it carries a slightly more spoken, conversational feel. It works in both speech and writing, and can shorten to 可 kě in slightly formal contexts.

可是 kěshì Chinese grammar

可是 kěshì swaps in for 但是 dànshì almost anywhere, but leans a little more casual and a little more emotionally expressive — it often shows up when the speaker is genuinely frustrated, confused, or surprised by the contrast.

1 Structure

Clause 1 + 可是 kěshì + Clause 2

Same slot as 但是 dànshì — say what’s true first, then use 可是 kěshì to introduce the contrast.

Good to Know

可是 kěshì can shrink down to just 可 kě. The meaning doesn’t change, but the feel does — 可 kě sounds more clipped and a little more literary, so it shows up more in writing or slightly formal speech, while full 可是 kěshì is the natural pick for everyday conversation.

他tā很hěn聪明cōngmíng，可kě太tài懒lǎn了le
He’s smart, but too lazy. (可 kě, the shortened form.)
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减肥jiǎnféi，可是kěshì从不cóngbú运动yùndòng
She wants to lose weight, but never exercises.
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说shuō不行bùxíng
I plan to retire, but my wife says no. (可 kě, the shortened form.)
我wǒ很hěn想xiǎng睡觉shuìjiào，可是kěshì还有háiyǒu作业zuòyè没méi写完xiěwán
I really want to sleep, but I still have homework I haven’t finished.
他tā长得zhǎngde很hěn可爱kěài，可是kěshì脾气píqi很差hěn chà
He looks very cute, but he has a bad temper.
我wǒ很hěn想xiǎng买mǎi新xīn手机shǒujī，可是kěshì钱包qiánbāo不bù允许yǔnxǔ
I really want to buy a new phone, but my wallet won’t allow it.

2 但是 vs 可是

A quick side-by-side of the two.

但是 dànshì 可是 kěshì
Tone Neutral, all-purpose Slightly more conversational, sometimes more emotional
Register Spoken and written Spoken and written, leans spoken
Shortened form 但 dàn (slightly formal) 可 kě (slightly formal)
Common with 虽然 suīrán (“although”) Rhetorical questions, complaints, surprise

3 Practice

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

01I want to buy this bag, but it’s too expensive.
我wǒ想xiǎng买mǎi这个zhège包包bāobāo，可是kěshì太tài贵guì了le
👆 Tap to reveal
02I really like him, but he doesn’t like me.
我wǒ很hěn喜欢xǐhuan他tā，可是kěshì他tā不bù喜欢xǐhuan我wǒ
👆 Tap to reveal
03Why is the line so long, but the store is almost empty?
为什么wèishénme队伍duìwu这么zhème长cháng，可是kěshì店里diànlǐ几乎jīhū没méi人rén？
👆 Tap to reveal
04I know I should exercise, but I really don’t want to.
我wǒ知道zhīdào我wǒ应该yīnggāi运动yùndòng，可是kěshì我wǒ真的zhēnde不bù想xiǎng
👆 Tap to reveal
05The movie sounds interesting, but I don’t have time to watch it.
这部zhè bù电影diànyǐng听起来tīngqǐlái很hěn有趣yǒuqù，可是kěshì我wǒ没méi时间shíjiān看kàn
👆 Tap to reveal
06He said he’d help me, but he never showed up.
他tā说shuō会huì帮bāng我wǒ，可是kěshì他tā根本gēnběn没méi出现chūxiàn
👆 Tap to reveal
07This restaurant is famous, but the food isn’t that good.
这家zhè jiā餐厅cāntīng很hěn有名yǒumíng，可是kěshì食物shíwù没méi那么nàme好吃hǎochī
👆 Tap to reveal
08I’m tired, but I still want to watch one more episode.
我wǒ很hěn累lèi，可是kěshì还hái想xiǎng再zài看kàn一集yìjí
👆 Tap to reveal

Related Grammar

→但是 dànshì — “But”(HSK 2) →不过 búguò — “But”(HSK 4) →然而 rán’ér — “However”(HSK 4)

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