<p>但是 is a more definite "but." 可是 is a bit more tentative, with a connotation of "but, perhaps."</p>

<p>不过 means "but," in the sense of "notwithstanding."</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-16T13:56:48.653Z
2011-12-16T13:56:48.653Z
Tom Au
<p>Normally you can just use 但是. When you use them as "but/however", they are essentially the same. The only difference is the intensity of tone: 但是 is the strongest like "but", the other two are less strong, but still close to "but". There is 然而 which is usually translated as "however".</p>

<p>但是 is only used as "but", while 可是 and 不过 have various other usages.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-16T07:52:15.240Z
What other usages are there for 可是 and 不过?
Cocowalla
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-16T08:53:56.053Z
@Cocowalla 可是 can mean "really"(to emphasize something). You can say “你可是犯了大错了!"(you really made a big mistake!). "不过” can mean "just,only", you can say ”他不过一岁，怎么可能认识这个字?"(he is just one year old, how can they read this character?)
Huang
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-16T09:04:41.383Z
I had so many typos...  "they"should be "he"
Huang
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-16T06:12:46.910Z
2011-12-16T19:55:38.387Z
2011-12-16T19:55:38.387Z
Kabie
<ul>
<li>但是 = but</li>
<li>可是 = although</li>
<li>不过 = rather</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-04-12T20:26:02.830Z
2018-04-12T20:26:02.830Z
user19480
<p>Check out this page: <a href="http://studymorechinese.com/profiles/blogs/say-but-chinese-ke-shi-butt">3 ways to say 'but' in Chinese - difference between 不过 bù guò - 可是 kě shì - 但是 dàn shì</a>.</p>

<p>That page says that:</p>

<ul>
<li>不过 is softer.</li>
<li>可是 is usually associated with something unfortunate.</li>
<li>但是 is more formal and stronger.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-17T02:56:39.793Z
2011-12-17T02:56:39.793Z
dusan
<p>According to my dictionary, 但是, 可是 and 不过 all mean "but/however"? However are there any differences between them? Are there some cases, where one can be used but not another?</p>

<vocabulary><usage>
但是, 可是 and 不过 - how to know which one to use?
# 但是, 可是 and 不过 - how to know which one to use?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-12-16)

According to my dictionary, 但是, 可是 and 不过 all mean "but/however"? However are there any differences between them? Are there some cases, where one can be used but not another?

**Tags:** vocabulary, usage


---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_6 on 2011-12-17. Score: 14 | Accepted answer

Check out this page: [3 ways to say 'but' in Chinese - difference between 不过 bù guò - 可是 kě shì - 但是 dàn shì](http://studymorechinese.com/profiles/blogs/say-but-chinese-ke-shi-butt).

That page says that:

* 不过 is softer.
* 可是 is usually associated with something unfortunate.
* 但是 is more formal and stronger.


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2011-12-16. Score: 8

但是 is a more definite "but." 可是 is a bit more tentative, with a connotation of "but, perhaps."

不过 means "but," in the sense of "notwithstanding."


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2011-12-16. Score: 4

Normally you can just use 但是. When you use them as "but/however", they are essentially the same. The only difference is the intensity of tone: 但是 is the strongest like "but", the other two are less strong, but still close to "but". There is 然而 which is usually translated as "however".

但是 is only used as "but", while 可是 and 不过 have various other usages.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: What other usages are there for 可是 and 不过?  
> **username_4**: @username_3 可是 can mean "really"(to emphasize something). You can say “你可是犯了大错了!"(you really made a big mistake!). "不过” can mean "just,only", you can say ”他不过一岁，怎么可能认识这个字?"(he is just one year old, how can they read this character?)  
> **username_4**: I had so many typos...  "they"should be "he"  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2018-04-12. Score: -1

* 但是 = but
* 可是 = although
* 不过 = rather


---

