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可是

kě shì
HSK 2.0 Level 4 HSK 3.0 Level 3 Conjunction Very common

Definitions

  1. 1. but; however
  2. 2. (used for emphasis) indeed

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Word relationships

Related words

1 item
只是
zhǐ shì

merely; only; just; nothing but

只是 means 'it's just that', often softens a statement.

Synonyms

3 items
但是
dàn shì

but; however

Both mean 'but', but 但是 is more formal and written.
不过
bù guò

only

不过 is more colloquial and less contrasting than 可是.
然而
rán ér

however; yet; but

然而 is formal, used in writing, similar to 'however'.

Usage notes

Collocations

Often pairs with 虽然 (suī rán) in '虽然...可是...' to mean 'although...but...'.

Formality

可是 is common in speech; for formal writing prefer 但是.

Grammar

Guides that feature 可是

Jump into a full guide with fill-in-the-blank drills. Clicking will load the page and move you to the top.

4 guides
HSK 2.0 Level 6+ HSK 3.0 Level 6+ 5 min
X归X，Y归Y for “X Is X and Y Is Y”

X归X，Y归Y keeps two things apart (朋友归朋友，规定归规定), and X归X alone admits a point before a “but” (贵归贵，味道真不错).

Reading: kě shì Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 6 min
却 for “But” Against Expectation

Use 却 after the subject to show that the second part goes against what the first part leads you to expect.

Reading: kě shì Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 2+ HSK 3.0 Level 3+ 6 min
可是 and 可 for “But”

Start the second clause with 可是, or the shorter, more casual 可, when what follows goes against what you just said.

Reading: kě shì Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 5 min
Keeping Things Apart with X是X，Y是Y

Use X是X，Y是Y to say two things are separate and shouldn’t be mixed, as in 工作是工作，生活是生活.

Reading: kě shì Open guide

Example Sentences

3 shown
我虽然很累， 可是 很开心。
Although I am very tired, I am very happy.
别看他年纪小， 可是 做事很认真。
Don't think that just because he's young, he doesn't do things seriously.
这东西好倒是好， 可是 太贵了。
This thing is good indeed, but it's too expensive.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 可是

可
kě

can

是
shì

to be (followed by substantives only)