Ia. The conjunction 但是(dànshì=but) is more often used in formal, such as news or written language, than daily conversation.
但是(dànshì=but) has a strongest intensity of tone (tends to give more emphasis to the second clause).
Example:
I’m not thirsty, but I’m hungry.
S1 + Adj1 + 但是(dànshì=but) +(S2) + Adj2
我(wǒ=I)不(bù=not)渴(kě=thirsty)但是(dànshì=but) (我(wǒ=I))很(hěn=very)饿(è=hungry)。
b. The conjunction 虽然(suīrán=although) is usually used correlatively with 但是(dànshì=but).
Example:
Although taking a subway is convenient, but it’s very expensive.
虽然(suīrán=although) + V1 + O + Adj1 + 但是(dànshì=but) +S + V2+ Adj2
虽然(suīrán=although)坐(zuò=to ride)地铁(dìtiě=subway)很(hěn=very)方便(fāngbiàn=convenient),但是(dànshì=but)很(hěn=very)贵(guì=expensive)。
IIa. 可是(kěshì=but) and 但是(dànshì=but) are almost the same and often interchangeable. But 可是(kěshì=but) is usually used in spoken Chinese and has a less strong intensity of tone than 但是(dànshì=but).
Example 1:
I‘m not tired, but I’m very sleepy.
S1 + Adj1 +可是(kěshì=not) +(S2) + Adj2
我(wǒ=I)不(bù=not)累(lèi=tired)可是(kěshì=but)(我(wǒ=I))很(hěn=very)困(kùn=sleepy)。(less strong intensity of tone)
Compared with Example 1b:
我(wǒ=I)不(bù=not)累(lèi=tired) 但是(dànshì=but)(我(wǒ=I))很(hěn=very)困(kùn=sleepy)。(strongest intensity of tone)
IIb. 可是(kěshì=but) is often associated with the negative result (also depend on personal preference).
Example 1:
The house is new, but it’s very dirty.
S1 + (V1) + Adj1 +可是(kěshì=but) +(S2) + Adj2
房子(fángzi=house)很(hěn=very)新(xīn=clean),可是(kěshì=but)很(hěn=very)脏(zāng=dirty) 。(negative result)
Compared with Example 1b:
房子(fángzi=house)很(hěn=very)新(xīn=clean), 但是(dànshì=but)很(hěn=very)脏(zāng=dirty) 。(strongest intensity of tone)
III. The conjunction 不过(bùguò= but) has a softest intensity of tone (compared with 但是(dànshì=but) and 可是(kěshì=but)).
Example
The meat ball is very delicious, but the soup is slightly salted.
S1 + Adj1 + 不过 + S2 + Adj2
肉丸(ròuwán=meat ball)很(hěn=very)好吃(hǎochī=delicious),不过(bùguò=but)汤(tāng=soup)有点(yǒudiǎn=slightly)咸(xián=salt)。(softest intensity of tone – it’s used to avoid hurt someone’s feelings)
Compared with Example 1b:
肉丸(ròuwán=meat ball)很(hěn=very)好吃(hǎochī=delicious),可是(kěshì=but)汤(tāng=soup)有点(yǒudiǎn=slightly)咸(xián=salt)。(negative result)
Compared with Example 1c:
肉丸(ròuwán=meat ball)很(hěn=very)好吃(hǎochī=delicious),但是(dànshì=but)汤(tāng=soup)有点(yǒudiǎn=slightly)咸(xián=salt)。(strongest intensity of tone)
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