可是 / 但是 (two words for “but”)
Two everyday words for "but"
- but可是 and but但是 both mean "but / however".
- I / me我want / think / miss想to go去，but但是not / haven't没(concept of) time时间 = "I want to go, but I don't have time."
- They're interchangeable; but但是 is a touch more formal.
… ，but可是 / but但是 …
- Either word opens the contrasting clause.
I我want想go去，but但是don't have没time时间。
- I / me我want / think / miss想to go去，but但是not / haven't没(concept of) time时间 = "I want to go, but have no time."
Practice
I want to go, but have no time: 我想去，____ 没时间。
… ，可是 / 但是 … = but: 我想去,但是没时间.
With although虽然
- They pair with although虽然: although虽然…，but但是… (although…, …).
Explore
Correct or broken?
可是 / 但是 turn the sentence — one turner per sentence, partnered with 虽然 (not 因为).
Practice
可是 and 但是 are…
Both = “but”; 但是 leans formal, 可是 more spoken.
Practice
可是 / 但是 can pair with 虽然 (虽然…但是…).
Yes: 虽然贵，但是好 (although expensive, it's good).
Recap
Key idea
- … ，but可是 / but但是 … — "but / however"
- I / me我want / think / miss想to go去，but但是not / haven't没(concept of) time时间
- Interchangeable; pairs with although虽然 (although虽然…but但是…)
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Conjunctions.