却 vs 但是: what is the difference?
但是 is a conjunction and can start the sentence: 但是他没来. 却 is an adverb and must follow the subject: 他却没来. They can also appear together in the same sentence: 他很想来，但是却没有时间.
| Word | Pinyin | What it does | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 却 | què | Marks a contrast the listener would not expect from the first clause. | subject + 却 + verb phrase |
| 但是 | dàn shì | A conjunction that opens the second clause and can also start a sentence. | Clause 1, 但是 + Clause 2 |
却 (què)
Marks a contrast the listener would not expect from the first clause.
Structure: subject + 却 + verb phrase
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 他说他很忙，却整天在玩游戏。 | Tā shuō tā hěn máng, què zhěng tiān zài wán yóu xì. | He said he was busy, yet he plays games all day. |
| 天气预报说会下雨，今天却是大晴天。 | Tiān qì yù bào shuō huì xià yǔ, jīn tiān què shì dà qíng tiān. | The forecast said rain, but today turned out sunny. |
| 她很想去，却没有时间。 | Tā hěn xiǎng qù, què méi yǒu shí jiān. | She wants to go very much, but has no time. |
Not: 却他没来。 却 comes after the subject: 他却没来.
但是 (dàn shì)
A conjunction that opens the second clause and can also start a sentence.
Structure: Clause 1, 但是 + Clause 2
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我很想去，但是没有时间。 | Wǒ hěn xiǎng qù, dàn shì méi yǒu shí jiān. | I really want to go, but I have no time. |
| 这家饭馆不大，但是很干净。 | Zhè jiā fàn guǎn bú dà, dàn shì hěn gān jìng. | This restaurant is not big, but it is clean. |
| 他很聪明，但是不努力。 | Tā hěn cōng ming, dàn shì bù nǔ lì. | He is clever, but he does not work hard. |
Not: 我想去，但是，因为没有时间。 但是 introduces the contrast itself, so do not add 因为: 我想去，但是没有时间。
Where this comes from
The comparison is part of 却/倒: unexpected contrast (HSK 4) in the grammar reference, which has the full explanation, more worked examples, and what to learn before and after it.
More pairs: 按照 vs 根据 · 不敢 vs 不能 · 及时 vs 立刻 · 记住 vs 记得 · 渐渐 vs 逐渐 · 将近 vs 大约 · 竟然 vs 居然 · 既然 vs 因为 · 看不懂 vs 没看懂 · 了 vs 过 · 连…都 vs 连…也 · 没有 vs 不如 · all 81 pairs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 却 and 但是?
但是 is a conjunction and can start the sentence: 但是他没来. 却 is an adverb and must follow the subject: 他却没来. They can also appear together in the same sentence: 他很想来，但是却没有时间.
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