不过

不過

búguò

conjunction HSK 4 #182

Meanings

HSK 1

不过是个小问题。

Búguò shì gè xiǎo wèntí.

It's merely a small problem.

HSK 2

东西不错，不过有点贵。

Dōngxi búcuò, búguò yǒudiǎn guì.

The stuff is nice, but a bit expensive.

HSK 3

他很聪明，不过不太努力。

Tā hěn cōngmíng, búguò bú tài nǔlì.

He's smart, but not very hardworking.

usage

不过 is softer than 但是. It introduces a gentle contrast or adds a mild caveat.

grammar

As 'only/merely': 不过是 + noun/clause. As 'but': placed between two clauses.

不 bù

过 guò