可是 / 但是 (but)

• Pinyin: kěshì / dànshì
• Formation: Statement ，可是 / 但是 + Contrasting Statement
• Hanzi breakdown: 可 = 口 (mouth) + 丁 (nail/fourth); 但 = 亻(person) + 旦 (dawn)

Meaning

Both 可是 (kěshì) and 但是 (dànshì) mean 'but' and are used to introduce a contrasting or opposing statement. 可是 is slightly more colloquial, while 但是 is more common in formal writing, though both are widely used in everyday speech.

可是 and 但是 are the two most standard translations of 'but' in Mandarin. While they are largely interchangeable, 可是 carries a slightly softer, more conversational feel and is favored in spoken Chinese. 但是 is considered more neutral and is equally appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. Both can appear after 虽然 in a 'although...but...' structure, which is standard in Chinese even though it would be redundant in English. Learners should note that unlike English, Chinese commonly uses both halves of the concessive pair together. Compared to 不过, both 可是 and 但是 express a stronger degree of contrast.

Examples

1. 我很想帮你，可是我真的没有时间。 I really want to help you, but I truly don't have time.
2. 他学了三年法语，但是还是说不好。 He studied French for three years, but still can't speak it well.
3. 外面在下雨，可是他没有带伞。 It's raining outside, but he didn't bring an umbrella.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: contrastive

Do Say

• 我知道他很忙，可是这件事不能再拖了。
• 虽然价格贵了一些，但是质量确实好。
• 她不太爱说话，可是心里什么都明白。

Don't Say

• 虽然他很聪明，可是但是他不努力。(Do not use both 可是 and 但是 together — pick one) → 虽然他很聪明，可是他不努力。
• 但是，他去了北京。(Do not start a standalone sentence with 但是 without a preceding statement providing context — Chinese requires the first clause to be present or clearly implied) → 他本来不想去，但是最后还是去了北京。

Origin & History

可是 combines 可 (can/may) and 是 (to be), originally expressing a concessive meaning. 但是 uses 但 (only/but), an ancient literary conjunction, combined with 是 for emphasis. Both evolved into standard modern conjunctions for expressing contrast.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal