HSK Guide

但是 dànshì — but, however

dànshì (fourth tone, falling)dan4shi4

but, however

HSK 2· HSK 1–4 (classic)Level 2· Three-band, nine-level standardconjunction
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Meanings

  1. but, however

    Opens a clause that runs against the one before it. It joins clauses, never two nouns, and a comma stands before it: 我很累，但是很高兴. 可是 is the lighter, more spoken alternative.

    conjunction

    After 虽然 the second clause keeps 但是 as well: Chinese states both halves of the pair where English drops one.

Character breakdown

  • 是
    shì (fourth tone, falling)

    to be (am, is, are); yes, that is so; correct, right

    9 strokes⿱日正Radical 日

Example sentences

  • 我很累，但是很高兴。我很累，但是很高興。Wǒ (third tone, dipping) hěn (third tone, dipping) lèi, (fourth tone, falling) dànshì (fourth tone, falling) hěn (third tone, dipping) gāoxìng. (first tone, high and level)···

    I’m tired, but I’m happy.

  • 他很想去，但是没有时间。他很想去，但是沒有時間。Tā (first tone, high and level) hěn (third tone, dipping) xiǎng (third tone, dipping) qù, (fourth tone, falling) dànshì (fourth tone, falling) méiyǒu (second tone, rising) shíjiān. (second tone, rising)···

    He’d very much like to go, but he hasn’t got the time.

Common mistakes

  • Not quite这个房间很小，和很贵。

    Correct这个房间很小，但是很贵。

    和 joins nouns — 我和他 — and can never link two statements. A contrast between clauses needs 但是 or 可是.

Similar words

Words containing 是