但是 meaning in English

dànshì

but; however

HSK 2conjunction16 strokes

Meaning of 但是

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

dànshì

but; however

How to use 但是

但是 links two clauses where the second one contrasts with the first. It usually starts the second clause and is often paired with 虽然 (suīrán, although). Example: 这个菜很好吃，但是太贵了。(Zhège cài hěn hǎochī, dànshì tài guì le.) This dish is tasty, but it is too expensive.

Think of 但 (dàn) as the "but" and 是 (shì) as "it is": "but it is..." introduces the other side of the story. Picture the person radical 亻 in 但 raising a hand to say "but" in a conversation.

Common mistake: English speakers often put 但是 after the subject, as in 我但是很忙. It should come at the start of the clause: 但是我很忙. Also, the 是 here is usually said in a light, quick fourth tone, so do not stress it like the verb "to be."

但是 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

或huò许xǔ你nǐ不bú记jì得de我wǒ了le，但dàn是shì我wǒ记jì得de你nǐ。

You may not remember me, but I remember you.

但dàn是shì他tā喜xǐ欢huān学xué校xiào放fàng长cháng假jià。

But he likes the long school holidays.

我wǒ不bù知zhī道dào这zhè是shì什shén么me东dōng西xī，但dàn是shì它tā很hěn大dà。

I don't know what it is, but it's something very big.

我wǒ喜xǐ欢huān英yīng语yǔ，但dàn是shì我wǒ说shuō不bù好hǎo。

I like English, but I cannot speak well.

但dàn是shì你nǐ有yǒu孩hái子zi。

But you have kids.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

但 dàn · but · 7 strokes

是 shì · to be · 9 strokes

Related words

Words that share a character with 但是.

还是	háishi	still (as before); had better
是不是	shì bu shì	is or is not (used to form yes-no questions)
可是	kěshì	but; however; (used for emphasis) indeed
正是	zhèngshì	is precisely
老是	lǎoshì	always
不但	bùdàn	not only (... but also ...)
就是	jiùshì	exactly; precisely; only; simply; just
只是	zhǐshì	merely; only; just; nothing but; simply
要是	yàoshi	(coll.) if
总是	zǒngshì	always
有的是	yǒudeshì	have plenty of; there's no lack of
是否	shìfǒu	whether (or not); if

Questions about 但是

What does 但是 mean?

但是 (dànshì) means "but; however" and is used as a conjunction.

How do you write 但是?

但是 is made of 2 characters: 但 (7 strokes), 是 (9 strokes). That is 16 strokes in total.

Is 但是 an HSK word?

Yes. 但是 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

What is the difference between 但是 and 可是?

Both mean "but" and are often interchangeable. 可是 (kěshì) sounds a little softer and more conversational, and it can also add emphasis. 但是 is slightly more neutral and common in writing.

Can I use 虽然 and 但是 together in one sentence?

Yes, and this is very common. Unlike English, where "although" and "but" are not used together, Chinese often says 虽然……但是…… as a pair, for example 虽然下雨，但是我们还是去了。(Suīrán xià yǔ, dànshì wǒmen háishi qù le.) Although it rained, we still went.