但是

dànshì

conjunction HSK 2 #79

Meanings

1 but
2 however

Characters

is (emphatic particle)

Examples

我很累，但是很开心。

Wǒ hěn lèi, dànshì hěn kāixīn.

I'm tired, but happy.

他会说中文，但是不会写。

Tā huì shuō Zhōngwén, dànshì bú huì xiě.

He can speak Chinese, but can't write it.

东西很好，但是太贵了。

Dōngxi hěn hǎo, dànshì tài guì le.

The things are nice, but too expensive.

Tips

grammar

虽然……但是…… (although...but...) is a key pattern. In Chinese, you use BOTH words — unlike English where you pick one.

Stroke Order

但 dàn

是 shì