(dàn) — but, yet, however (conjunction indicating contrast); merely, only (adverb, literary)

Definition

但 is a slightly more written/formal 'but' than 但是 and 可是. 仅仅 means 'merely' (adverb sense).

butyethowever (conjunction indicating contrast)merelyonly (adverb, literary)

Examples

  • Wǒ xiǎng qù gōng yuán, dàn jīn tiān hěn lěng.
    I want to go to the park, but it's very cold today.
  • Tā xué xí hěn nǔ lì, dàn kǎo shì méi yǒu kǎo hǎo.
    He studies very hard, but he didn't do well on the exam.
  • Wǒ xiǎng mǎi zhè běn shū, dàn méi yǒu qián.
    I want to buy this book, but I don't have money.

Grammar

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