但是 vs 却 (dànshì vs què): conjunction or adverb for contrast
但是 is a conjunction meaning 'but' that connects two contrasting clauses, typically placed at the start of the second clause. 却 is an adverb meaning 'yet' or 'however' that goes after the subject and before the verb, adding a sense of unexpectedness. Learners often confuse them by putting 却 at the beginning of a sentence like a conjunction, which is incorrect.
Both 但是 (dànshì) and 却 (què) express contrast, but they belong to different parts of speech and follow different sentence positions. 但是 is a conjunction that introduces a contrasting clause, equivalent to English 'but', and always appears at the beginning of that clause (after a subject or not). 却 is an adverb that modifies the verb, meaning 'yet' or 'nevertheless', and must be placed after the subject and before the verb phrase. While 但是 is neutral in tone, 却 often implies a contradiction with expectation or a sense of irony. They can also co-occur for emphasis in a 但是…却… pattern.
When to use each
Use 但是 to connect two clauses where the second clause presents a contrast or exception to the first. It is the standard, neutral way to say 'but' and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It can be shortened to 但 in casual speech.
但是 cannot be used inside a single clause; it always links two clauses or sentences. It does not carry strong emotional or surprising weight—it simply states contrary information.
Use 却 to add a contrastive, often unexpected nuance within a clause. It must be placed after the subject and before the verb phrase, and it typically highlights a contradiction between what is expected and what actually happens. It is common in written and spoken Chinese, often with a slightly more literary or emphatic feel than 但是.
却 cannot start a sentence or clause on its own; it must follow a subject. It can be combined with other contrastive conjunctions like 虽然 (suīrán) or 但是 to strengthen the contrast: 虽然他很努力，却失败了. In such patterns, 却 adds a layer of surprise or regret.
At a glance
| 但是 | 却 | |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | Conjunction | Adverb |
| Position in clause | Beginning of second clause (after optional subject) | After subject, before verb phrase |
| Can start a sentence? | Yes (e.g., 但是，他来了) | No; must follow a subject |
| Tone | Neutral contrast | Adds unexpectedness / contradiction |
| Can be combined? | Can be followed by 却 for emphasis (但是…却…) | Can follow 但是 or 虽然 for added contrast |
Examples
- 但是他很聪明，但是不努力。Tā hěn cōngmíng, dànshì bù nǔlì.He is smart, but not hardworking.Standard use of 但是 to connect two contrasting clauses.
- 却他明明很努力，却考得不好。Tā míngmíng hěn nǔlì, què kǎo de bù hǎo.He was obviously very hardworking, yet he didn't do well on the exam.却 adds a sense of unexpectedness despite effort.
- 却虽然天气很冷，大家却很有热情。Suīrán tiānqì hěn lěng, dàjiā què hěn yǒu rèqíng.Although the weather was cold, everyone was very enthusiastic.却 pairs with 虽然 to highlight the contrast between weather and mood.
- 但是她喜欢音乐，但是不喜欢唱歌。Tā xǐhuān yīnyuè, dànshì bù xǐhuān chànggē.She likes music, but she doesn't like singing.Simple contrast using 但是; 却 could be used here too but would imply surprise.
- 但是我想去，但是却没有时间。Wǒ xiǎng qù, dànshì què méiyǒu shíjiān.I want to go, but I don't have time (unfortunately).但是 and 却 can co-occur; 却 adds a note of regret or unexpectedness. Both are correct here.
- 却他很聪明，却不努力。Tā hěn cōngmíng, què bù nǔlì.He is smart, yet he doesn't work hard.Contrast alone with 却 (no 但是). Emphasizes the contradiction: expected to work hard, but doesn't.
Common mistakes
- Using 却 at the beginning of a clause like a conjunction, e.g., '却他不喜欢' (should be '他却不喜欢' or '但是他不喜欢').
- Omitting the subject before 却 when a contrast is intended, e.g., '却很高兴' (should include a subject like '他却很高兴').
- Using 但是 when a more emotional or unexpected contrast would be better expressed with 却, e.g., '他考试没通过，但是不伤心' sounds flat; better: '...却不伤心' to show surprise.
- Placing 却 without a clear subject (e.g., in a complex sentence with no explicit subject before 却). Ensure the subject is present or implied from context.
FAQ
- When do I use 但是 vs 却?
- Use 但是 when you simply need to connect two contrasting statements neutrally. Use 却 when you want to emphasize that the second part contradicts expectation or adds a sense of surprise. 但是 is a conjunction (starts a clause), while 却 is an adverb (goes after the subject, before the verb).
- Can 却 be used without 但是?
- Yes, absolutely. 却 can stand alone as a contrastive adverb in a single clause, e.g., '他很有钱，却不快乐' (He is rich, yet unhappy). It does not need 但是 to express contrast, but it cannot start a sentence.
- Is 却 formal or informal?
- 却 is neutral to slightly literary. It is common in both writing and speech, but in very casual conversation, speakers might prefer 但是 or simply 可是. However, 却 is perfectly fine in spoken Chinese when emphasizing unexpectedness.
- Why can't I put 却 at the beginning of a sentence?
- 因为 却 is an adverb, not a conjunction. Adverbs modify verbs and must follow the subject. If you want to start a sentence with a contrast, use the conjunction 但是 or 可是 instead: e.g., '他却迟到了' is correct; '却他迟到了' is wrong.