可是 / 但是 (but)

• 拼音: kěshì / dànshì
• 结构: Statement ，可是 / 但是 + Contrasting Statement
• 汉字拆解: 可 = 口 (mouth) + 丁 (nail/fourth); 但 = 亻(person) + 旦 (dawn)

含义

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.

例句

1. 我很想帮你，可是我真的没有时间。
2. 他学了三年法语，但是还是说不好。
3. 外面在下雨，可是他没有带伞。

用法指南

语境: spoken, written, everyday

语气: contrastive

正确说法

• 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。

错误说法

• 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。

起源与历史

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.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal