dàn
shì
(Mandarin)
(Cantonese)

HSK 2

Dictionary

but; however

Examples

我想去游泳,但是今天下雨了。

Wǒ xiǎng qù yóuyǒng, dànshì jīntiān xià yǔ le.

I want to go swimming, but it's raining today.

这个蛋糕看起来很好吃,但是我已经吃饱了。

Zhège dàngāo kàn qǐlái hěn hǎochī, dànshì wǒ yǐjīng chībǎo le.

This cake looks delicious, but I'm already full.

Did You Know?

Grammar

Word Formation

但 means 'but/only' and 是 means 'is'.

Usage Tips

但是 is used to contrast two clauses: 我想去,但是没时间 (I want to go, but I have no time). It's more formal than 可是 (kěshì) and 不过 (búguò).