For autodidact students of Mandarin, the conjunction 但是 (dànshì) — "but/however" — introduces one of the richest contrast structures in the language. Chinese has a family of "but" words, each with a distinct register: 但是 is the standard written form; 可是 (kěshì) is the natural colloquial equivalent; 但 (dàn) is the literary abbreviated form; and 不过 (búguò) is a softer "however, that said" that cushions rather than contradicts. Knowing which to reach for, and when, is a reliable marker of fluency.
Chinese also has a concession structure not found in English — the 虽然…但是 pattern. English marks only one half of a concession: either "although X" or "but Y." Chinese marks both explicitly: 虽然很累，但是他继续了 (Although tired, BUT he continued). Neither 虽然 nor 但是 can stand alone in this structure — both halves are grammatically obligatory.
Key Takeaways: - 但是 (dànshì): standard "but" — formal writing, news, speeches - 可是 (kěshì): colloquial "but" — everyday conversation - 但 (dàn): literary/abbreviated "but" — written prose - 不过 (búguò): soft "however / that said" — polite concession - 虽然…但是 (suīrán…dànshì): although…but — Chinese marks BOTH halves
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但 is a phonetic compound: the person radical 亻on the left, and 旦 (dàn — dawn, the sun above the horizon line) on the right as a phonetic component giving the pronunciation. 是 (shì, to be) is among the most common characters in Chinese. Together 但是 forms a fixed conjunction — the 是 here is not the copula but has been absorbed into a compound function word. This kind of grammaticalisation, where former content words become grammatical particles, is a pervasive feature of Chinese linguistic history.
The speech radical 讠in 是 — wait, 是 does not contain a speech radical. 是 is composed of 日 (rì, sun) on top and 正 (zhèng, correct) below, giving the sense of something that is evidently, correctly so. Worth noticing to avoid confusing 是 with other characters.
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23.1a 他 he 很 very 聪明 smart ， , 但是 but 不 not 努力 hardworking
23.1b (tā) he (hěn) very (cōngming) smart (dànshì) but (bù) not (nǔlì) hardworking
23.2a 我 I 想 want 去 go ， , 但是 but 没有 not-have 时间 time
23.2b (wǒ) I (xiǎng) want (qù) go (dànshì) but (méiyǒu) not-have (shíjiān) time
23.3a 虽然 although 很 very 累 tired ， , 但是 but 他 he 坚持 persisted 完成 complete 了 PERF 工作 work
23.3b (suīrán) although (hěn) very (lèi) tired (dànshì) but (tā) he (jiānchí) persisted (wánchéng) complete (le) PERF (gōngzuò) work
23.4a 这 this 个 CL 方法 method 简单 simple ， , 但是 but 有效 effective
23.4b (zhège) this-CL (fāngfǎ) method (jiǎndān) simple (dànshì) but (yǒuxiào) effective
23.5a 价格 price 贵 expensive ， , 但是 but 质量 quality 很好 very-good
23.5b (jiàgé) price (guì) expensive (dànshì) but (zhìliàng) quality (hěn hǎo) very-good
23.6a 我 I 喜欢 like 上海 Shanghai ， , 可是 but-COLLOQ 不 not 喜欢 like 这里 here 的 DE 天气 weather
23.6b (wǒ) I (xǐhuan) like (Shànghǎi) Shanghai (kěshì) but-COLLOQ (bù) not (xǐhuan) like (zhèlǐ) here (de) DE (tiānqì) weather
23.7a 他 he 说 said 要 would 来 come ， , 但 but-LIT 没 not-PAST 来 come
23.7b (tā) he (shuō) said (yào) would (lái) come (dàn) but-LIT (méi) not-PAST (lái) come
23.8a 不过 however ， , 这 this 也 also 没 not-PAST 关系 matter
23.8b (búguò) however (zhè) this (yě) also (méi) not-PAST (guānxi) matter [= It doesn't matter]
23.9a 虽然 although 她 she 失败 failed 了 PERF ， , 但是 but 没有 not-have 放弃 give-up
23.9b (suīrán) although (tā) she (shībài) failed (le) PERF (dànshì) but (méiyǒu) not-have (fàngqì) give-up
23.10a 这 this 道 CL-dish 菜 dish 看起来 looks 不好 not-good ， , 但是 but 味道 taste 很好 very-good
23.10b (zhè) this (dào) CL-dish (cài) dish (kàn qǐlái) looks (bù hǎo) not-good (dànshì) but (wèidào) taste (hěn hǎo) very-good
23.11a 我 I 理解 understand 你 you ， , 但是 but 不 not 同意 agree 你 your 的 DE 做法 approach
23.11b (wǒ) I (lǐjiě) understand (nǐ) you (dànshì) but (bù) not (tóngyì) agree (nǐ) your (de) DE (zuòfǎ) approach
23.12a 这 this 件事 matter 复杂 complex ， , 但是 but 并不是 certainly-not 解决不了 cannot-resolve 的 DE
23.12b (zhè) this (jiàn shì) matter (fùzá) complex (dànshì) but (bìng bù shì) certainly-not (jiějué bu liǎo) cannot-resolve (de) DE
23.13a 虽然 although 路 road 还 still 很长 very-long ， , 但是 but 我们 we 已经 already 上路 on-the-way 了 PERF
23.13b (suīrán) although (lù) road (hái) still (hěn cháng) very-long (dànshì) but (wǒmen) we (yǐjīng) already (shànglù) on-the-way (le) PERF
23.14a 书 book 很难 very-difficult ， , 但是 but 值得 worth 读 read
23.14b (shū) book (hěn nán) very-difficult (dànshì) but (zhíde) worth (dú) read
23.15a 不管 no-matter 怎样 how ， , 他 he 都 all 不 not 会 will 放弃 give-up
23.15b (bù guǎn) no-matter (zěnyàng) how (tā) he (dōu) all (bù) not (huì) will (fàngqì) give-up
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23.1 他很聪明，但是不努力。 "He is very smart, but not hardworking."
23.2 我想去，但是没有时间。 "I want to go, but I don't have time."
23.3 虽然很累，但是他坚持完成了工作。 "Although very tired, he persisted and finished the work."
23.4 这个方法简单，但是有效。 "This method is simple, but effective."
23.5 价格贵，但是质量很好。 "The price is high, but the quality is very good."
23.6 我喜欢上海，可是不喜欢这里的天气。 "I like Shanghai, but I don't like the weather here."
23.7 他说要来，但没来。 "He said he would come, but didn't."
23.8 不过，这也没关系。 "However, that doesn't matter either."
23.9 虽然她失败了，但是没有放弃。 "Although she failed, she didn't give up."
23.10 这道菜看起来不好，但是味道很好。 "This dish doesn't look good, but it tastes very good."
23.11 我理解你，但是不同意你的做法。 "I understand you, but I don't agree with your approach."
23.12 这件事复杂，但是并不是解决不了的。 "This matter is complex, but it certainly isn't unsolvable."
23.13 虽然路还很长，但是我们已经上路了。 "Although the road is still long, we are already on our way."
23.14 书很难，但是值得读。 "The book is very difficult, but worth reading."
23.15 不管怎样，他都不会放弃。 "No matter what, he will not give up."
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23.1 他很聪明，但是不努力。 23.2 我想去，但是没有时间。 23.3 虽然很累，但是他坚持完成了工作。 23.4 这个方法简单，但是有效。 23.5 价格贵，但是质量很好。 23.6 我喜欢上海，可是不喜欢这里的天气。 23.7 他说要来，但没来。 23.8 不过，这也没关系。 23.9 虽然她失败了，但是没有放弃。 23.10 这道菜看起来不好，但是味道很好。 23.11 我理解你，但是不同意你的做法。 23.12 这件事复杂，但是并不是解决不了的。 23.13 虽然路还很长，但是我们已经上路了。 23.14 书很难，但是值得读。 23.15 不管怎样，他都不会放弃。
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These are the grammar rules for 但是 (dànshì) — "but":
The register spectrum of "but": Chinese has several contrastive conjunctions, each with a different stylistic weight:
但是 (dànshì): the baseline "but" of formal written Chinese — essays, news writing, speeches, formal emails. Interchangeable with 可是 in meaning, but carries more weight on the page.
可是 (kěshì): the everyday conversational "but" — natural in speech and informal writing. Where 但是 would sound slightly stiff in casual conversation, 可是 fits perfectly.
但 (dàn): the literary, abbreviated form — found in classical-influenced prose, in song lyrics, in aphorisms. 他说要来，但没来 has an elegance that the fuller 但是 version lacks.
不过 (búguò): a soft pivot — "however, that said, mind you." It introduces a qualification rather than a full contradiction: 不过，这也没关系 (However, it doesn't matter). 不过 is used when the speaker wants to soften a contrast or introduce a minor reservation.
然而 (rán'ér): formal literary "however" — found in academic writing and elevated prose; rarely heard in speech.
The 虽然…但是 concession structure: Chinese explicitly marks both halves of a concession where English marks only one:
English: "Although tired, he continued." — or — "He was tired, but he continued." Chinese: 虽然很累，但是他继续了 — literally: "Although-tired, but he continued."
Both 虽然 and 但是 must appear. Omitting 虽然 while keeping 但是 is acceptable (he was tired, but continued). Omitting 但是 while keeping 虽然 produces an incomplete sentence in Chinese — the concessive clause is left hanging without its resolution.
并不是 (bìng bù shì): 并 is an emphatic adverb meaning "indeed / certainly" — it intensifies what follows, particularly a negation. 并不是 = "certainly is not / it really is not the case that." Used when correcting an assumption or pushing back on a claim: 这件事并不是那么简单 (This matter is certainly not that simple).
不管…都 (bùguǎn…dōu): a concessive-universal construction — "no matter [what/how/who/where], [subject] still [result]." 不管 introduces any condition; 都 in the second clause asserts that the result holds regardless. 不管怎样，他都不放弃 (No matter what the situation, he never gives up). The pair is inseparable: 不管 without 都 sounds incomplete.
Common Mistakes: - Omitting 但是 in the second clause of 虽然…: 虽然很累，他继续了 — this is heard in learner Chinese but sounds clipped; native Chinese expects 但是 or 可是 in the second clause - Using 但是 at the beginning of a sentence without a first clause — 不过 is more natural in this position - Confusing 但是 and 而是 (érshì, "but rather") — 而是 introduces a replacement: 不是A，而是B (not A, but rather B)
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The 虽然…但是 structure is the backbone of Chinese persuasive writing and speech. To acknowledge a difficulty and then pivot past it is a deeply Confucian rhetorical move: you show you have considered the objection (虽然), and then you demonstrate why it does not change the conclusion (但是). Political speeches, academic introductions, and business proposals in China reliably open with this concessive-then-assertive structure.
The softer 不过 is the tool of Chinese social grace. Direct disagreement is often felt to be abrasive; 不过 softens the correction into a qualification. A Chinese colleague who says 不过，你的想法也有道理 (However, your idea also has merit) after a critical comment is performing a social as well as grammatical act — using conjunction as cushion.
苏轼 (Su Shi, 1037–1101) — one of the supreme stylists of Chinese prose — built many of his most famous sentences on the 虽然…但是 axis. The Song Dynasty elevated this structure to an art form: acknowledge the world's imperfection, then assert something beautiful within it.
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苏轼 (Sū Shì), 《水调歌头》— Prelude to Water Music, 1076 CE
Su Shi wrote this on the Mid-Autumn Festival, separated from his brother Ziyou. The poem ends with one of the most celebrated sentences in Chinese literary history — a sentence built on the logic of 但是:
人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，此事古难全。但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
人 (rén) people 有 (yǒu) have 悲欢 (bēi huān) sorrow-and-joy 离合 (lí hé) parting-and-reunion ，
月 (yuè) moon 有 (yǒu) have 阴晴 (yīn qíng) cloudy-and-clear 圆缺 (yuán quē) full-and-waning ，
此事 (cǐ shì) this-matter 古 (gǔ) from-ancient-times 难全 (nán quán) hard-to-be-perfect 。
但愿 (dàn yuàn) only-wish 人 (rén) people 长久 (cháng jiǔ) last-long ，
千里 (qiān lǐ) thousand-li 共 (gòng) together 婵娟 (chán juān) moon-beautiful
F-B: Authentic Text with Translation
人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，此事古难全。但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。
"People have their sorrows and joys, partings and reunions; the moon has its clouds and clearings, waxings and wanings — such things have from ancient times never been perfect. But I only wish you long life, that though a thousand li apart we share this beautiful moon."
F-C: Authentic Text Only
人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，此事古难全。但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
但愿 (dàn yuàn): here 但 is not the conjunction "but" but the literary adverb "only / merely / just" — 但愿 = "I only wish / if only." This is a different word from the conjunction 但/但是, though the character is the same. Context distinguishes: when 但 begins a clause and is followed by a verb directly (不是连词而是副词), it is the adverb "only."
婵娟 (chán juān): a poetic circumlocution for the moon — literally describing its graceful, beautiful light. Classical Chinese poetry frequently avoids direct naming in favour of evocative description. The moon is 婵娟, 明月, 玉轮 (jade wheel) — never simply 月亮 (the everyday word) in elevated verse.
共 (gòng): "together / share" — 千里共婵娟 = "from a thousand li apart, share the moonlight together." Togetherness across distance: the conjunction 共 does what the lesson word 但是 does — it bridges two things that seem separated.
F-E: Literary Commentary
Su Shi's poem is structurally a 虽然…但是: three lines of concession (people part, moons wane, perfection is impossible), then a pivot to wish. The 但 that opens 但愿 is a hinge — not the conjunction "but" but the adverb "only," and yet it performs the same turn. After acknowledging everything that makes life imperfect, the poet does not despair. Instead: but I only wish you long life. That "but" — whether conjunction or adverb — is the gesture of going on. The lesson word 但是 carries all of this weight whenever Chinese speakers use it: not mere contradiction, but the insistence on continuing despite.
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Two old friends — Xiao Chen and Lao Wang — argue about whether Xiao Chen should quit his stable job to open a café. The full register spectrum of "but" appears naturally: 但是 in the formal statements, 可是 in the pushback, 不过 when softening, 但 when the prose turns literary at the end.
23.16a 小陈 Xiao-Chen 说 said ： : "我 I 想 want 辞职 quit-job ， , 去 go 开 open 一家 one-CL 咖啡馆 café 。"
23.16b (Xiǎo Chén) Xiao-Chen (shuō) said (wǒ) I (xiǎng) want (cízhí) quit-job (qù) go (kāi) open (yī jiā) one-CL (kāfēiguǎn) café
23.17a 老王 Lao-Wang 说 said ： : "可是 but-COLLOQ ， , 你 you 现在 now 的 DE 工作 work 很稳定 very-stable 啊 PART 。"
23.17b (Lǎo Wáng) Lao-Wang (shuō) said (kěshì) but-COLLOQ (nǐ) you (xiànzài) now (de) DE (gōngzuò) work (hěn wěndìng) very-stable (a) PART
23.18a "稳定 stable 是 is 好 good ， , 但是 but 我 I 不 not 开心 happy 。"
23.18b (wěndìng) stable (shì) is (hǎo) good (dànshì) but (wǒ) I (bù) not (kāixīn) happy
23.19a "虽然 although 不 not 开心 happy ， , 但是 but 辞职 quitting-job 风险 risk 很大 very-big 。"
23.19b (suīrán) although (bù) not (kāixīn) happy (dànshì) but (cízhí) quitting-job (fēngxiǎn) risk (hěn dà) very-big
23.20a "我 I 知道 know 风险 risk 大 big ， , 但是 but 我 I 更 more 怕 fear 后悔 regret 。"
23.20b (wǒ) I (zhīdào) know (fēngxiǎn) risk (dà) big (dànshì) but (wǒ) I (gèng) more (pà) fear (hòuhuǐ) regret
23.21a 老王 Lao-Wang 沉默 silent 了 PERF 一会儿 a-moment ， , 说 said ： : "不过 however ， , 你 you 真的 really 有 have 准备 preparation 了 PERF 吗 Q ？"**
23.21b (Lǎo Wáng) Lao-Wang (chénmò le) silent-PERF (yī huìr) a-moment (shuō) said (búguò) however (nǐ) you (zhēn de) really (yǒu) have (zhǔnbèi) preparation (le) PERF (ma) Q?
23.22a "虽然 although 我 I 经验 experience 不 not 多 much ， , 但是 but 我 I 学 studied 了 PERF 两年 two-years 咖啡 coffee 知识 knowledge 。"
23.22b (suīrán) although (wǒ) I (jīngyàn) experience (bù) not (duō) much (dànshì) but (wǒ) I (xué) studied (le) PERF (liǎng nián) two-years (kāfēi) coffee (zhīshi) knowledge
23.23a 老王 Lao-Wang 点 nodded 了 PERF 点头 head ： : "虽然 although 不 not 容易 easy ， , 但是 but 你 you 有 have 热情 passion ， , 这 this 很重要 very-important 。"
23.23b (Lǎo Wáng) Lao-Wang (diǎn le tóu) nodded-PERF (suīrán) although (bù) not (róngyì) easy (dànshì) but (nǐ) you (yǒu) have (rèqíng) passion (zhè) this (hěn zhòngyào) very-important
23.24a 一个月 one-month 后 after ， , 小陈 Xiao-Chen 递交 submitted 了 PERF 辞职信 resignation-letter
23.24b (yī gè yuè hòu) one-month-after (Xiǎo Chén) Xiao-Chen (dìjiāo) submitted (le) PERF (cízhí xìn) resignation-letter
23.25a 大家 everyone 虽然 although 担心 worried ， , 但是 but 也 also 支持 supported 他 him
23.25b (dàjiā) everyone (suīrán) although (dānxīn) worried (dànshì) but (yě) also (zhīchí) supported (tā) him
23.26a 咖啡馆 café 开张 opened 了 PERF ， , 虽然 although 第一年 first-year 很难 very-difficult ， , 但是 but 慢慢 gradually 好起来 got-better
23.26b (kāfēiguǎn) café (kāizhāng) opened (le) PERF (suīrán) although (dì yī nián) first-year (hěn nán) very-difficult (dànshì) but (màn màn) gradually (hǎo qǐlái) got-better
23.27a 老王 Lao-Wang 来 came 喝 drink 咖啡 coffee 时 when ， , 笑着 smiling 说 said ： : "你 you 做 did 对了 right-PERF 。"
23.27b (Lǎo Wáng) Lao-Wang (lái) came (hē) drink (kāfēi) coffee (shí) when (xiào zhe) smiling (shuō) said (nǐ) you (zuò) did (duì le) right-PERF
23.28a 小陈 Xiao-Chen 说 said ： : "虽然 although 辛苦 hard ， , 但是 but 每天 every-day 都 all 很充实 very-fulfilled 。"
23.28b (Xiǎo Chén) Xiao-Chen (shuō) said (suīrán) although (xīnkǔ) hard (dànshì) but (měitiān) every-day (dōu) all (hěn chōngshí) very-fulfilled
23.29a 老王 Lao-Wang 说 said ： : "不过 however ， , 当初 at-first 要 if-not 不是 not 我 I 支持 supported 你 you …"
23.29b (Lǎo Wáng) Lao-Wang (shuō) said (búguò) however (dāngchū) at-first (yào bu shì) if-not (wǒ) I (zhīchí) supported (nǐ) you
23.30a 小陈 Xiao-Chen 笑 smiled 着 PROG 打断 interrupted 他 him ： : "你 you 当时 at-that-time 虽然 although 说 said 可是 but-COLLOQ ， , 但 but-LIT 心里 heart-inside 一直 always 支持 supported 我 me 。"
23.30b (Xiǎo Chén) Xiao-Chen (xiào zhe) smiled-PROG (dǎduàn) interrupted (tā) him (nǐ) you (dāngshí) at-that-time (suīrán) although (shuō) said (kěshì) but-COLLOQ (dàn) but-LIT (xīnlǐ) heart-inside (yīzhí) always (zhīchí) supported (wǒ) me
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23.16 小陈说："我想辞职，去开一家咖啡馆。" "Xiao Chen said: 'I want to quit my job and open a café.'"
23.17 老王说："可是，你现在的工作很稳定啊。" "Lao Wang said: 'But your current job is very stable.'"
23.18 "稳定是好，但是我不开心。" "'Stability is good, but I'm not happy.'"
23.19 "虽然不开心，但是辞职风险很大。" "'Although you're not happy, the risk of quitting is very high.'"
23.20 "我知道风险大，但是我更怕后悔。" "'I know the risk is high, but I fear regret even more.'"
23.21 老王沉默了一会儿，说："不过，你真的有准备了吗？" "Lao Wang was quiet for a moment, then said: 'However, are you really prepared?'"
23.22 "虽然我经验不多，但是我学了两年咖啡知识。" "'Although I don't have much experience, I have studied coffee for two years.'"
23.23 老王点了点头："虽然不容易，但是你有热情，这很重要。" "Lao Wang nodded: 'Although it won't be easy, you have passion — that's very important.'"
23.24 一个月后，小陈递交了辞职信。 "A month later, Xiao Chen submitted his resignation letter."
23.25 大家虽然担心，但是也支持他。 "Although everyone worried, they also supported him."
23.26 咖啡馆开张了，虽然第一年很难，但是慢慢好起来。 "The café opened; although the first year was difficult, things gradually got better."
23.27 老王来喝咖啡时，笑着说："你做对了。" "When Lao Wang came for coffee, he said with a smile: 'You made the right choice.'"
23.28 小陈说："虽然辛苦，但是每天都很充实。" "Xiao Chen said: 'Although it's hard work, every day feels very fulfilling.'"
23.29 老王说："不过，当初要不是我支持你……" "Lao Wang said: 'However, if I hadn't supported you at the start……'"
23.30 小陈笑着打断他："你当时虽然说可是，但心里一直支持我。" "Xiao Chen interrupted him with a smile: 'Although you said "but" at the time, in your heart you always supported me.'"
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23.16 小陈说："我想辞职，去开一家咖啡馆。" 23.17 老王说："可是，你现在的工作很稳定啊。" 23.18 "稳定是好，但是我不开心。" 23.19 "虽然不开心，但是辞职风险很大。" 23.20 "我知道风险大，但是我更怕后悔。" 23.21 老王沉默了一会儿，说："不过，你真的有准备了吗？" 23.22 "虽然我经验不多，但是我学了两年咖啡知识。" 23.23 老王点了点头："虽然不容易，但是你有热情，这很重要。" 23.24 一个月后，小陈递交了辞职信。 23.25 大家虽然担心，但是也支持他。 23.26 咖啡馆开张了，虽然第一年很难，但是慢慢好起来。 23.27 老王来喝咖啡时，笑着说："你做对了。" 23.28 小陈说："虽然辛苦，但是每天都很充实。" 23.29 老王说："不过，当初要不是我支持你……" 23.30 小陈笑着打断他："你当时虽然说可是，但心里一直支持我。"
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The final example (23.30) is the payoff of the lesson: 你当时虽然说可是，但心里一直支持我 — "Although you said 可是 at the time, in your heart you always supported me." The word 可是 (the colloquial "but") appears as the direct object of 说 — someone said the word "but." Meanwhile the sentence itself is structured with 虽然…但 — a literary concession using the abbreviated 但 rather than 但是. The lesson's full register spectrum is collapsed into one sentence.
慢慢好起来 (màn màn hǎo qǐlái): 慢慢 (gradually) + 好 (good/well) + 起来 (directional complement indicating upward change). 起来 attached to stative verbs or adjectives expresses the beginning of a positive change: 热起来 (starting to get hot), 难起来 (getting harder). The movement is upward — an improvement.
要不是 (yào bu shì): "if it were not for / if not for" — a fixed conditional phrase used for counterfactual reasoning. 要不是我支持你 = "if it were not for my supporting you." Equivalent to 如果不是 but slightly more colloquial.
笑着打断 (xiào zhe dǎduàn): 笑 (smile/laugh) + 着 (simultaneous action marker) + 打断 (interrupt). A simultaneous construction: "interrupted while smiling / interrupted with a laugh." 着 between two verbs shows the first as the manner or background of the second.
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但是 (dànshì) — IPA: /tan˥˩.ʂɻ̩˥˩/
但 (dàn): fourth tone — d is unaspirated [d], the vowel a is open and short, n closes the syllable, the tone falls sharply.
是 (shì): fourth tone — sh is retroflex [ʂ], the vowel ì after a retroflex is a unique buzzing syllabic sound [ɻ̩] with no English equivalent; the lips are spread, the tongue is curled back, producing a resonant friction. Tone 4 falls sharply.
The full word 但是 (dànshì): two consecutive fourth-tone syllables, each falling. In natural speech there is a very slight pause or lengthening between them; they do not blur together. Practise: 但是 — 但是 — 但是, keeping each syllable distinct and falling.
Colloquial alternatives in pronunciation: - 可是 (kěshì): kě is third tone (low-dipping), shì is fourth — the tonal contrast is sharp and easily distinguished - 不过 (búguò): bú is second tone before a fourth-tone syllable (tonal sandhi from base 不 bù), guò is fourth tone — a rising then falling pattern
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