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可是 / 但是 (two words for “but”)
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Two kinds of "but"
- You tell a friend the new café is expensive, but the coffee really is excellent.
- 这家café咖啡馆very很expensive贵，but可是coffee (loanword)咖啡really真的very很tasty (drinks)好喝。 — "This café is expensive, but the coffee is really good."
but可是 and but但是 = but
- Both introduce a contrast and start the second clause. but但是 is neutral and fits writing; but可是 is a little more spoken.
- Both pair with although虽然: although虽然very很tired累，but但是very很happy开心.
although虽然very很tired累，but但是very很happy开心。
Complete (written): “Although it was raining, the match went ahead.” 虽然下雨，____比赛照常进行。
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虽然 pairs with 但是 / 可是.
Feeling in but可是
- but可是 often carries the speaker's feeling: surprise, regret, complaint: I我want to想go去，but可是Mum妈妈not不let让。 — "I want to go, but Mum won't let me."
- but但是 states the contrast more neutrally, as in reports.
I我want to想go去，but可是Mum妈妈not不let让。
Build: “I want to go, but Mum won't let me.”
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Clause 1, 可是 + clause 2.
One "but" per contrast
- Do not double them: although虽然…but但是…, not although虽然…but可是but但是….
- Put but但是 / but可是 at the start of the clause, before the subject: but但是I我not / haven't没go去, not I我but但是not / haven't没go去.
Which sentence has correct word order?
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但是 starts the contrasting clause.
but可是, but但是, but不过
- but不过 is the softest: a small reservation.
- but但是 and but可是 make a clear contrast; yet却 can add to it after the subject: he他very很clever聪明，but但是yet却not不hard-working努力.
he他very很clever聪明，but但是yet却not不hard-working努力。
却 can follow the subject to strengthen a contrast.
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True. 却 is an adverb after the subject that sharpens a contrast, often with 但是 or 可是: 我很累，但是他却很精神.
Recap
- but但是 = but (neutral, written too); but可是 = but (spoken, often with feeling).
- Both start the clause; but不过 is softer; yet却 can follow the subject.
Read the full reference: HSK 4 grammar — Conjunctions.
You tell a friend the new café is expensive, but the coffee really is excellent. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.