但是 (dànshì) — But in Mandarin
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#141 most common word · HSK 2 · CEFR A2
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
但是 is pronounced dànshì. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
Zhè hěn nán, dànshì wǒ huì jìnlì.
This is difficult, but I will do my best.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 但是 mean?+
但是 (dànshì) means "But" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 但是?+
但是 is pronounced dànshì. It uses the tone 4 (falling). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 但是 in Mandarin?+
但是 is the #141 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 但是 fits
Every HSK 2 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
Master the tones first
What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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