不过 (bù guò) — (conjunction) but, however; (adverb) only, merely, no more than (used before a number or quantity); (adverb) cannot be more, extremely (used after an adjective in the pattern 最+Adj+不过了)
Definition
不过 works as both a connector and a limiter. As "but/however" it's the most casual, spoken choice — lighter than 但是 or 然而. As "only/merely" it precedes a number; as a post-adjective intensifier (Adj+不过了) it means "couldn't be more Adj."
conjunction
buthowever
adverb
onlymerelyno more than (used before a number or quantity)cannot be moreextremely (used after an adjective in the pattern 最+Adj+不过了)
Examples
- ，不过。Wǒ xiǎng qù, bù guò tài máng le.I want to go, but I'm too busy.
- 不过。Tā bù guò èr shí suì.He is only twenty years old.
- 不过。Zhè ge wèn tí jiǎn dān bù guò le.This question couldn't be simpler.
Grammar
Appears in
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