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可是 (kě shì) — but; however

Definition

可是 is a colloquial 'but/however' used in everyday speech. Use 但是 in more formal or written contexts, and 然而 in formal writing for a stronger contrast.

conjunction
buthowever

Examples

  • ，可是。
    Jīn tiān tiān qì hěn hǎo, kě shì wǒ bù néng chū qù.
    The weather is nice today, but I can't go out.
  • ，可是。
    Tā xué xí hěn nǔ lì, kě shì chéng jì hái shì bú tài hǎo.
    He studies very hard, but his grades are still not great.
  • ，可是。
    Wǒ xiǎng mǎi zhè běn shū, kě shì tài guì le.
    I want to buy this book, but it's too expensive.

Origin

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
口口kǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
丂
丂kǎo可kě
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

可 pairs 口 (mouth) with 丂 as a sound part; it is tied to air from the mouth, perhaps singing.

Open 可 →

No reliable origin is recorded for this character.

Open 是 →

Grammar

Appears in
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