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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.

Padrão

clause 1，可是 / 可 + clause 2

可是 and 可 link two clauses with a contrast, like “but.” They open the second clause.

这件衣服很好看，可是太贵了。

When to use 可是 and 可 for “But”

可是 (kě shì) means “but.” It begins the second clause and tells the listener that what comes next goes against what they might expect from the first clause: 这件衣服很好看，可是太贵了. 可 (kě) on its own is a shorter, more casual “but” that you hear a lot in speech: 他说要来，可到现在还没来. Both can pair with 虽然 “although” in the first clause: 虽然下雨了，可是我们还是去了公园. The first clause can also stand alone without 虽然.

我想去看电影，可是明天有考试。

I want to see a film, but I have an exam tomorrow.

他说要来，可到现在还没来。

He said he’d come, but he still hasn’t come.

虽然下雨了，可是我们还是去了公园。

Although it rained, we still went to the park.

我给他打了三次电话，可是他都没接。

I called him three times, but he didn’t answer any of them.

Erros comuns

  • Put 可是 at the start of the “but” clause: 可是太贵了; don’t move it to the end of the sentence like English “though.”
  • Use one “but” word per clause: 可是 or 但是, not both together.
  • 可 + adjective + 了 means “really …” (可好吃了), not “but.”

Exercício direcionado

Pratique exatamente este padrão antes de avançar.

我给他打了三次电话， 他都没接

I called him three times, but he didn’t answer any of them
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