Sentence with suīrán 虽然/雖然, dànshì 但是, kěshì 可是 and búguò 不过/不過

The conjunctions dànshì 但是, kěshì 可是 and búguò 不过/不過 all mean “but” and can be used in the second clause to indicate a contradiction. However, these three conjunctions differ slightly in tone and usage and are used in different contexts. Dànshì 但是 is more formal and can be used in both written and spoken contexts. Kěshì 可是 and búguò 不过/不過 are more common in spoken language and sound less formal.

When emphasizing a contradiction to a known fact, the conjunctions suīrán 虽然/雖然 ‘although’ and these above-mentioned conjunctions are commonly used in paired clauses. In a paired-clause construction, suīrán 虽然/雖然 always appears in the first clause to concede a known fact.

If the context is clear, suīrán 虽然/雖然 can be left out while dànshì 但是, kěshì 可是, and búguò 不过/不過 are still used in the second clause.

Structure

1. Using dànshì 但是, kěshì 可是 and búguò 不过/不過 in the second clause to indicate a contradiction

In spoken Chinese, dànshì 但是, kěshì 可是 and búguò 不过/不過 can appear on their own in the second clause to indicate a contradiction.

fact，

中文很难，

中文很難，

Zhōngwén hěn nán,

但是/可是/不过+contradiction

但是我会努力学习。

但是我會努力學習。

dànshì wǒ huì nǔlì xuéxí.

Chinese is difficult, but I will study hard.

fact，

这本书非常有意思，

這本書非常有意思，

Zhè běn shū fēicháng yǒuyìsi,

但是/可是/不过+contradiction

可是我不想读。

可是我不想讀。

kěshì wǒ bù xiǎng dú.

This book is very interesting, but I don’t want to read it.

fact，

她非常年轻，

她非常年輕，

Tā fēicháng niánqīng,

但是/可是/不过+contradiction

不过已经去过许多国家了。

不過已經去過許多國家了。

búguò yǐjīng qù guo xǔduō guójiā le.

She is very young; however, she has already been to many countries.

2. Using suīrán 虽然/雖然 in the first clause to indicate a clear contradiction

Usually, suīrán 虽然/雖然 is placed at the sentence-initial position, but if the two clauses share the same subject, it can be placed after the subject.

虽然 + fact，

虽然中文很难，

雖然中文很難，

Suīrán Zhōngwén hěn nán,

但是/可是/不过 + contradiction

但是我会努力学习。

但是我會努力學習。

dànshì wǒ huì nǔlì xuéxí.

Although Chinese is difficult, I will study hard.

虽然 + fact，

虽然这本书非常有意思，

雖然這本書非常有意思，

Suīrán zhè běn shū fēicháng yǒuyìsi,

但是/可是/不过 + contradiction

可是我不想读。

可是我不想讀。

kěshì wǒ bù xiǎng dú.

Although this book is very interesting, I don’t want to read it.

虽然 + fact，

她虽然非常年轻，

她雖然非常年輕，

Tā suīrán fēicháng niánqīng,

但是/可是/不过 + contradiction

不过已经去过许多国家了。

不過已經去過許多國家了。

búguò yǐjīng qù guo xǔduō guójiā le.

Although she is very young, she has already been to many countries.

Functions

Indicating a contradictory idea or information to an acknowledged fact

All the three conjunctions dànshì 但是, kěshì 可是 and búguò 不过/不過 ‘but’ can be used in the second clause to indicate the contradiction; however, they differ slightly in tone and usage and are used in different contexts. Dànshì 但是 sounds more formal and can be in both written and spoken contexts, whereas kěshì 可是 and búguò 不过/不過 are more prevalent in colloquial speech and convey a less formal tone.

In spoken language, kěshì 可是 sounds more personal and emotionally charged, and it can suggest disagreement, so it is often related to refutations or stronger disagreement. Búguò 不过/不過, on the other hand, has a lighter tone and often indicates a mild contrast or additional explanation.

他生病了，可是不愿意去看病。

他生病了，可是不願意去看病。

Tā sheng bìng le, kěshì bú yuànyì qù kàn bìng.

He is sick, but he is not willing to go to see a doctor.

(The speaker disagrees with the fact that the person does not want to see a doctor despite his sickness.)

他生病了，不过不愿意去看病。

他生病了，不過不願意去看病。

Tā sheng bìng le, búguò bú yuànyì qù kàn bìng.

He is sick, but he is not willing to go to see a doctor.

(The speaker does not necessarily disagree that the person does not want to see a doctor despite his sickness. The information marked by 不过 is presented as an additional piece of information without the speaker positioning himself.)

In a conversation, kěshì 可是 and búguò 不过/不過 are often used to introduce a contrasting situation, expressing a disagreement, or providing additional explanation in relation to a fact previously mentioned.

A：下雨了，我们别出门吧。

A：下雨了，我們別出門吧。

Xià yǔ le, wǒmen bié chū mén ba.

It’s raining, let’s not go out.

B：可是我还是想出门。

B：可是我還是想出門。

Kěshì wǒ háishi xiǎng chū mén.

But I still want to go out.

A：你写汉字写得真漂亮！

A：你寫漢字寫得真漂亮！

Nǐ xiě Hànzì xiě de zhēn piàoliang!

You write Chinese characters really beautifully!

B：不过我写得很慢，我还得努力。

B：不過我寫得很慢，我還得努力。

Búguò wǒ xiě de hěn màn, wǒ hái děi nǔlì.

But I write very slowly, and I still need to work hard.

When emphasizing a contrasting idea in relation to an acknowledged fact, the conjunction suīrán 虽然/雖然 needs to be used in the first clause. The first part with suīrán 虽然/雖然 introduces a fact or situation that is acknowledged, while the second part presents the contradiction.

虽然坐公共汽车很便宜，但是有一点慢。

雖然坐公共汽車很便宜，但是有一點慢。

Suīrán zuò gōnggòng qìchē hěn piányi, dànshì yǒu yìdiǎn màn.

Although taking the bus is very cheap, it’s a bit slow.

Suīrán 虽然/雖然 is usually placed at the sentence-initial position, but if the two clauses share the same subject, it can be placed after the subject.

这家商店卖的东西虽然可爱，可是比其他商店卖的东西贵。

這家商店賣的東西雖然可愛，可是比其他商店賣的東西貴。

Zhè jiā shāngdiàn mài de dōngxi suīrán kě’ài, kěshì bǐ qítā shāngdiàn mài de dōngxi guì.

Although the things sold in this shop are cute, they are more expensive than those sold in other shops.

Note that in English, when “although” is used, the second clause does not take “but.” In Chinese, however, a conjunction such as dànshì 但是, kěshì 可是 or búguò 不过/不過 is still required in the second clause.

虽然运动中心离我家不远，但是我不常去。

雖然運動中心離我家不遠，但是我不常去。

Suīrán yùndòng zhōngxīn lí wǒ jiā bù yuǎn, dànshì wǒ bù cháng qù.

Although the sports centre is not far from my home, I don’t go there often.