Understanding 'But' in Chinese: Using '但是' and '可是'
In Chinese, when you want to say 'but', you can use the words '但是' (dàn shì) and '可是' (kě shì). These words help you show contrast or an unexpected result, just like 'but' does in English.
Important Points
- '但是' and '可是' can be used interchangeably, but '但是' is slightly more formal.
- Both words are placed between two parts of a sentence to show contrast.
- You can use them to express a change in thought or an unexpected result.
Let's look at some examples to see how '但是' and '可是' are used in sentences.
Examples
- 我喜欢吃苹果，但是我不喜欢吃香蕉。
- 天气很冷，可是他没有穿外套。
- 她很聪明，但是她不喜欢学习。
In each example, the word '但是' or '可是' is used to show a contrast between two ideas. For instance, someone likes apples but not bananas.
Now you know how to use '但是' and '可是' to say 'but' in Chinese. Try using them to make your own sentences and express different ideas!