What is the main difference between 但是 and 不过?

但是 expresses a strong, direct contrast or contradiction, while 不过 adds a mild qualification or concession. Think of 但是 as 'but (on the contrary)' and 不过 as 'though, (just) that'.

When should I use 但是 instead of 不过?

Use 但是 when the second clause strongly contradicts or reverses the first, especially in formal writing, logical arguments, or clear-cut oppositions. For example, '他很有钱，但是不幸福' (He is rich, but unhappy) requires 但是 because the contrast is stark.

Can I use 但是 and 不过 interchangeably?

Not always. In many everyday situations they are interchangeable, but the tone differs: 但是 sounds more assertive, while 不过 feels softer and more conversational. For strong contradictions, only 但是 is appropriate; for light afterthoughts, only 不过 sounds natural.

Is 不过 more polite than 但是?

Yes, in many contexts 不过 is considered more polite or diplomatic because it does not negate the preceding statement completely. Use 不过 to soften a refusal or to add a mild correction without sounding confrontational.

Easily confusedHSK 4

但是 vs 不过 (dànshì vs búguò): strong contrast vs mild qualification

Both 但是 and 不过 mean 'but' or 'however' in Chinese, but they differ in strength and register. 但是 introduces a strong contrast that usually rebuts the preceding statement, while 不过 adds a gentle qualification or concession, often softening the turn. Use 但是 for clear contradictions and 不过 for minor adjustments or in informal speech.

但是 and 不过 are both adversative conjunctions that link two clauses with a sense of 'but'. The key difference lies in the strength of the contrast: 但是 signals a full contradiction or unexpected outcome, often used in formal writing and speech. 不过, on the other hand, conveys a lighter, more conversational contrast—often a concession or minor limitation—and is common in everyday spoken Chinese. While they overlap in many contexts, 不过 is never used for strong rebuttals, and 但是 can sound too forceful in informal concessions.

When to use each

但是dànshì

but

Use 但是 to express a strong, direct contrast or contradiction, especially when the second clause negates or reverses an expectation from the first. It is the default formal adversative conjunction in both written and spoken Chinese. 但是 often appears with 虽然 in concessive structures (although...but...).

不过búguò

however / though (mild)

Use 不过 to introduce a minor qualification, a softer contrast, or a concession that does not fully contradict the preceding clause. It is more colloquial than 但是 and is common in casual conversation. 不过 can also be used to politely downplay a previous statement or to add a gentle afterthought.

Besides its use as a conjunction, 不过 can also function as an adverb meaning 'only' or 'merely' (e.g., 不过如此 'only so-so'), but in the adversarial sense it always carries a mild tone.

At a glance

	但是	不过
Strength of contrast	Strong contrast; full contradiction or unexpected result	Mild contrast; partial exception or qualification
Register	Formal and neutral; used in all registers	Informal to neutral; more common in spoken Chinese
Use with 虽然 (suīrán, although)	Common, especially in formal writing (虽然…但是…)	Possible but less formal; 虽然…不过… is acceptable in speech
Concessive tone	No concession; direct opposition	Concedes a point while adding a limitation

Examples

但是
我想去，但是没时间。
Wǒ xiǎng qù, dànshì méi shíjiān.
I want to go, but I don't have time.
Strong contrast: the desire to go and the lack of time are directly contradictory.
不过
这件衣服很漂亮，不过有点贵。
Zhè jiàn yīfu hěn piàoliang, búguò yǒudiǎn guì.
This dress is beautiful, though a bit expensive.
Mild qualification: the beauty is acknowledged, but a minor drawback is added.
但是
虽然下雨了，但是比赛还是照常进行。
Suīrán xià yǔ le, dànshì bǐsài háishì zhàocháng jìnxíng.
Although it rained, the competition proceeded as usual.
Typical 虽然…但是… structure: strong contrast between rain and continuation.
不过
他虽然学习很努力，不过成绩并不理想。
Tā suīrán xuéxí hěn nǔlì, búguò chéngjì bìng bù lǐxiǎng.
He studies hard, but his grades are not ideal.
Milder concession: effort is acknowledged, but the outcome is slightly disappointing.
但是
他说他会来，但是最后没来。
Tā shuō tā huì lái, dànshì zuìhòu méi lái.
He said he would come, but in the end he didn't.
Strong contradiction: the outcome completely negates the promise.
不过
他说他会来，不过可能会晚一点。
Tā shuō tā huì lái, búguò kěnéng huì wǎn yīdiǎn.
He said he would come, though he might be a bit late.
Soft qualification: the main statement stands, but a small condition is added.

Common mistakes

Using 但是 for a mild concession, e.g., '他很聪明，但是有点懒' – while grammatically correct, 不过 would sound more natural and less forceful.
Using 不过 in formal writing where a strong rebuttal is needed, e.g., in academic arguments – use 但是 instead.
Confusing 不过 with 但是 when the second clause completely rejects the first (e.g., '我想去，不过我不去' – should be 但是).
Thinking 不过 is always interchangeable with 但是 – they are not; 不过 cannot introduce a complete reversal.

FAQ

What is the main difference between 但是 and 不过?: 但是 expresses a strong, direct contrast or contradiction, while 不过 adds a mild qualification or concession. Think of 但是 as 'but (on the contrary)' and 不过 as 'though, (just) that'.
When should I use 但是 instead of 不过?: Use 但是 when the second clause strongly contradicts or reverses the first, especially in formal writing, logical arguments, or clear-cut oppositions. For example, '他很有钱，但是不幸福' (He is rich, but unhappy) requires 但是 because the contrast is stark.
Can I use 但是 and 不过 interchangeably?: Not always. In many everyday situations they are interchangeable, but the tone differs: 但是 sounds more assertive, while 不过 feels softer and more conversational. For strong contradictions, only 但是 is appropriate; for light afterthoughts, only 不过 sounds natural.
Is 不过 more polite than 但是?: Yes, in many contexts 不过 is considered more polite or diplomatic because it does not negate the preceding statement completely. Use 不过 to soften a refusal or to add a mild correction without sounding confrontational.