但是
HSK 2 (exam 2025)HSK 2 (2021)
但是 (dànshì) · but
但是 (dànshì) means “but; however”. It is written with 2 characters: 但 (but) + 是 (to be). It is an HSK 2 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 但是 is built
The characters
但 dàn · but
What 但 is made of
- 亻rén — person
- 旦dàn — dawn
- 日rì — sun; day
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 日rì — sun; day
是 shì · to be
What 是 is made of
- 日rì — sun; day
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 疋pǐ — foot shape
Origin hint: To speak 日 directly 疋 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
我想去，但是没时间。Wǒ xiǎng qù, dànshì méi shíjiān.I want to go, but I don't have time.
这个房间不大，但是很干净。Zhège fángjiān bù dà, dànshì hěn gānjìng.This room isn't big, but it's clean.
Questions about 但是
What does 但是 mean?
但是 (dànshì) means “but; however”.
How do you pronounce 但是?
但是 is pronounced dànshì.
Which HSK level is 但是?
但是 is in HSK 2 (exam 2025) and HSK 2 (2021).
Related words
- 不但bùdànnot only (... but also ...)
- 虽然但是suīrán dànshìalthough…, but…
- 不但而且bùdàn…érqiěnot only … but also …
- 但dànbut
- 还是háishior
- 是不是shìbushìis it or not
- 可是kěshìbut
- 老是lǎoshialways
- 正是zhèngshìto be exactly
- 就是jiùshìexactly
Learn 但是 with its group
It is part of HSK 2 (2021) · Group 27: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.