但

dàn

HSK 2.0 Level 2 HSK 3.0 Level 2 Conjunction Very common

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Definitions

1. but; yet; however; still
2. merely; only; just

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Character focus

Stroke order

7 strokes

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Word relationships

Related words

1 item

• 仅 jǐn 仅 jǐn barely Formal equivalent for 'only' or 'merely': barely

Synonyms

2 items

• 可是 kě shì 可是 kě shì but; however When used to express 'but' or 'however' in a contrastive sense: but; however
• 不过 bù guò 不过 bù guò only When used to express 'but' or 'however', often in spoken Chinese: only

Usage notes

Collocations

Often paired with 虽然 (suīrán) in the pattern 虽然...但... to mean 'although... still...'

Common mistakes

Do not confuse 但 with 但是; 但 is more formal and often used in writing, while 但是 is more common in speech.

Grammar

Guides that feature 但

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3 guides

HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 6+ 6 min

虽...，但/可/却/也... for Written “Although”

虽 is the written, one-character form of 虽然; it usually follows the subject, and the next clause turns with 但, 可, 却 or 也.

Reading: dàn Open guide

HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 7–9+ 6 min

虽说……，但/可…… for “Although …, Still …”

Use 虽说 as a lively, spoken-style 虽然, followed by 但 or 可 in the next clause: 虽说已经到了春天，可天气还是很冷.

Reading: dàn Open guide

HSK 2.0 Level 2+ HSK 3.0 Level 2+ 5 min

那 and 但 for “In That Case” and “But”

At the start of a reply, 那 means “then, in that case”; 但 is a shorter 但是 for “but”. Together with 虽然, 因为, 所以 and 还是, they join clauses.

Reading: dàn Open guide

Example Sentences

5 shown

他很有钱， 但 一毛不拔。

He is very rich, but he won't give a single cent.

他说了， 但 我不相信。

He said it, but I don't believe it.

小偷企图逃跑， 但 被警察抓住了。

The thief attempted to escape, but was caught by the police.

他屡次尝试， 但 都没成功。

He tried repeatedly, but didn't succeed.

她穿着朴素， 但 很整洁。

She is dressed plainly, but very neatly.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 但

• 不但 不但 bù dàn: not only (... but also ...)
• 但是 但是 dàn shì: but; however
• 但愿 但愿 dàn yuàn: if only (sth were possible)
• 不求有功，但求无过 不求有功，但求无过 bù qiú yǒu gōng , dàn qiú wú guò: lit. not aiming to achieve the best possible result, but rather trying to avoid making mistakes (idiom)
• 但丁 但丁 dàn dīng: Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), Italian poet, author of the Divine Comedy 神曲
• 但以理书 但以理书 dàn yǐ lǐ shū: Book of Daniel
• 但凡 但凡 dàn fán: every single
• 但尼生 但尼生 dàn ní shēng: Tennyson (name)
• 但书 但书 dàn shū: proviso
• 但说无妨 但说无妨 dàn shuō wú fáng: there is no harm in saying what one thinks (idiom)
• 但愿如此 但愿如此 dàn yuàn rú cǐ: if only it were so
• 格但斯克 格但斯克 gé dàn sī kè: Gdansk, city on Baltic in north Poland
• 圣但尼 圣但尼 shèng dàn ní: St Denis or St Dennis
• 非但 非但 fēi dàn: not only
• 马但 马但 mǎ dàn: Matthan, son of Eleazar and father of Jakob in Matthew 1.15