When do I use 可是 vs 却?

Use 可是 when you need a conjunction to connect two clauses directly, such as 'I like it, but it’s expensive.' Use 却 when you want an adverb that emphasizes the unexpected or contrastive nature of the predicate, like 'I like it, yet it is expensive.' 却 cannot start a clause by itself.

Can I use 可是 and 却 in the same sentence?

Yes. In fact, 可是…却… is a common pattern that reinforces contrast. For example: 虽然天气冷，可是他却穿了很少 (Although the weather is cold, he wears very little).

Is 却 more formal than 可是?

Not necessarily more formal, but 却 is more common in written Chinese and in literary or formal contexts. 可是 is neutral and used equally in speech and writing. In many cases, 却 can carry a nuance of unexpectedness or irony.

Can 却 start a sentence?

No. 却 is an adverb and must follow a subject (or a topic with an implied subject). To start a sentence with a contrast, use 可是, 但是, or 然而 instead.

Easily confusedHSK 3

可是 vs 却 (kěshì vs què): conjunction vs. adverb for 'but'

可是 (kěshì) and 却 (què) both translate to 'but' or 'however' in English, but they differ in grammatical category and sentence position. 可是 is a conjunction that introduces a contrastive clause, typically at its beginning; 却 is an adverb placed after the subject and before the predicate to express unexpectedness or contrast. Choosing between them depends on the desired structure and emphasis.

可是 and 却 both express contrast similar to 'but' or 'however' in English, but they belong to different word classes and occupy different positions in a sentence. 可是 is a conjunction used at the beginning of a clause to connect it to a preceding clause, indicating a concession or shift. 却 is an adverb that modifies the verb, placed after the subject (and optional time/location phrases) to highlight an unexpected or contrary outcome. They can appear together—可是…却…—to reinforce the contrast. The choice depends on whether you need a connective word to join clauses (use 可是) or an adverb to emphasize the verb's contrast (use 却).

When to use each

可是kěshì

but / however (conjunction)

Use 可是 as a conjunction at the beginning of a clause to introduce a contrasting statement relative to the preceding clause. It is the most common and direct equivalent of 'but' in spoken and written Chinese.

Conversationally, 可是 can also be used as a discourse marker to soften or retract a statement, similar to 'well, but...' in English. It may also co-occur with 但是 or 却 for added emphasis.

却què

but / however (adverb)

Use 却 as an adverb after the subject (and after any time or location phrase) and before the main verb or adjective. It conveys that the action or state is contrary to expectation or contrasts with a previous idea.

却 often appears in sentences with an explicit or implied concession (e.g., with 虽然). It cannot start a clause by itself; a subject or at least an implied subject must precede it.

At a glance

	可是	却
Part of speech	Conjunction	Adverb
Position in sentence	Beginning of second clause (before subject)	After subject, before verb/predicate
Can start a clause?	Yes	No (needs subject before it)
Common collocations	虽然…可是…, 可是…但是… (sometimes redundant)	虽然…却…, 尽管…却…, 可是…却…
Register	Neutral, spoken and written	Slightly formal, common in writing

Examples

可是
他想去，可是没时间。
Tā xiǎng qù, kěshì méi shíjiān.
He wants to go, but he doesn't have time.
可是 introduces the contrasting clause.
却
她努力准备了，却失败了。
Tā nǔlì zhǔnbèi le, què shībài le.
She prepared hard, but (unexpectedly) failed.
却 emphasizes the unexpected failure.
可是
虽然下雨，可是比赛却照常进行。
Suīrán xià yǔ, kěshì bǐsài què zhàocháng jìnxíng.
Although it rained, the match went on as usual.
Both 可是 and 却 appear; 可是 is the conjunction linking clauses, 却 adds contrast.
却
这个办法简单，却很有效。
Zhège bànfǎ jiǎndān, què hěn yǒuxiào.
This method is simple, yet very effective.
却 contrasts 'simple' with 'effective'.
可是
他平时看起来很懒，可是工作起来却很认真。
Tā píngshí kàn qǐlái hěn lǎn, kěshì gōngzuò qǐlái què hěn rènzhēn.
He usually looks lazy, but when he works he is very serious.
The 可是…却… pattern highlights a strong contrast.

Common mistakes

Using 却 as a conjunction at the start of a clause without a subject: ❌ 却他没来 (should be: 他没来 or 他却没来).
Placing 可是 after the subject like an adverb: ❌ 他可是不知道 means 'he indeed doesn’t know', not 'but he doesn’t know'. For contrast, use 可是 at the beginning of the clause.
Omitting a subject before 却 when required: ❌ 却很高兴 (no subject; correct: 他却很高兴).
Assuming 可是 and 却 are freely interchangeable: they have different positions and connotations; patterns like 虽然…可是… vs 虽然…却… are not identical.

FAQ

When do I use 可是 vs 却?: Use 可是 when you need a conjunction to connect two clauses directly, such as 'I like it, but it’s expensive.' Use 却 when you want an adverb that emphasizes the unexpected or contrastive nature of the predicate, like 'I like it, yet it is expensive.' 却 cannot start a clause by itself.
Can I use 可是 and 却 in the same sentence?: Yes. In fact, 可是…却… is a common pattern that reinforces contrast. For example: 虽然天气冷，可是他却穿了很少 (Although the weather is cold, he wears very little).
Is 却 more formal than 可是?: Not necessarily more formal, but 却 is more common in written Chinese and in literary or formal contexts. 可是 is neutral and used equally in speech and writing. In many cases, 却 can carry a nuance of unexpectedness or irony.
Can 却 start a sentence?: No. 却 is an adverb and must follow a subject (or a topic with an implied subject). To start a sentence with a contrast, use 可是, 但是, or 然而 instead.