Writing
可是 (kěshì) — how to say "but" in Chinese
可是
But, however
conjunction joining clauses
How to use it
Joins the parts of a complex sentence, often paired with another conjunction.
他想去，可是没钱。
tā xiǎng qù kě shì méi qián
He wants to go, but he has no money.
Radicals / Keys
口
Mouth
#30 · kǒu · 3 strokes
日
Sun
#72 · rì · 4 strokes
Synonyms
Examples
虽然那家餐厅的菜很好吃，可是价格太贵了，我们很少去。
Although the food in that restaurant is very delicious, but the prices are too expensive, we rarely go there.
我想去，可是没时间。
I want to go, but I don't have time.
Mnemonic
[kěshì-] "kay-shih, but!" Kitten Ke reaches for the cookie jar: "可!" But the lid is screwed tight — "可是!" He tries again, but the jar won't budge. What a bother, but he won't give up! 🍪
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "but" in Chinese?
"but" in Chinese is 可是 (kěshì).
What does 可是 mean?
可是 (kěshì) means "But, however".
How is 可是 pronounced?
It is pronounced kěshì (written as keshi). You can listen to the pronunciation on this page.
How do you write "but" in Chinese characters?
It is written 可是: 可 has 5 strokes, 是 has 9 strokes. The Writing section above animates the stroke order of each character and lets you trace it.
What HSK level is 可是?
可是 belongs to the HSK 4 vocabulary list.
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