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How to Say ‘But’ in Simplified Chinese

可是

kě shì

[kuh-shir]

💬 Usage Tip: [可是] means "but," often a bit stronger or more conversational than [但是]. It's very common when explaining a problem: [可是我没钱] "but I don't have money."

Phrase Breakdown

可是

kě shì

[kuh-shir]

but; however

可是 introduces a contrast, often a polite objection or problem after someone suggests something.

Example

可是我没有零钱。

But I don't have any change.

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