但係 (daan6 hai6 | dan4 xi4) : but; however

Remove Adverts and gain lots of extra features
What is this page showing me?

但係

daan6 hai6

dan4 xi4

but; however (Standard Chinese: 但是, 可是, 不過, 然而)

Level: 2 Google Frequency: 327,000

This term is used in Cantonese, not Mandarin/Standard written Chinese. 粵

但係 / 但系

This word has been viewed 12063 times since 30th Oct 2012, was added by aaron on 14th Jul 2004 02:25 and last edited on 30th Oct 2012 01:12

Output this word as a high resolution image

Characters in this word:

但 daan6 - but; however; yet
係 hai6 - yes, it is; indeed; right; positive; to be

Showing all 9 examples containing 但係

佢喺度釣魚…但係終於釣到垃圾粵
He's fishing... but, he wound up catching some rubbish!
[Lit. He currently fishing... but, he finally catch-arrive rubbish!]

雖然係真空，但係唔係話乜嘢都冇。粵
Although it's a vacuum, it's not like there's nothing there.
[Lit. Although is vacuum, but not saying anything don't-have]

佢戴住一頂頭盔，但係唔係好型粵
He's wearing a helmet but it doesn't look too good on him.
[Lit. He wear-continue one [counter] helmet, however not-very stylish.]

佢睇緊書，但係我睇唔到嗰本書嘅名。粵
He/She is reading a book, but I can't see what it's called.

細佬，冇人鐘意喺公眾地方著衫嘅，但係呢啲係法律呀粵
Kid, no-one likes to wear clothes in public, but it's the law!
[Lit. child, have-no people like in public place wear-clothes [particle], however these are law [particle]]

佢戴著一頂頭盔，但係一啲都唔型粵
He's wearing a helmet but it doesn't look good on him at all.
[Lit. He wear-continue one [counter] helmet, however a little bit also not stylish. 一啲都唔［adjective] is a useful construction to mean "not at all..."]

我琴日睇咗一套戲，但係一啲都唔好睇粵
I saw a film yesterday, and boy did it suck.
[Lit. I yesterday see-already [counter] film, however one little bit also not good-watch.]

其實我好想同佢掟煲，但係因為次次同佢講呢件事佢都喊得好慘，所以到而家我都唔敢同佢講分手粵
Actually I really want to break up with her, but I daren't suggest it. Every time I mention it, she bursts into tears.
[Lit. actually I very want with her break-up, however because time-time with her also speak this [counter] matter she cry manner very pitiful, therefore arrive now I not dare with her speak split hand.]

呢件事睇起嚟好困難﹐但係做落去好容易。粵
This task seems quite difficult, but doing it is really easy.
[Aspect markers 起嚟 and 落去 function rather like antonyms, originally meaning "starting to" and "carrying on" respectively. ]

Forum Code to link to this word:
[big][url=http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/645/]但係[/url][/big]
HTML Code to link to this word:
<a href="http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/dictionary/words/645/" class="chinesemed" target="_blank">但係</a>
Decimal representation of this word: 但係

Search CantoDict (safe search is on)

Please note, CantoDict currently supports searching for Simplified Chinese, but results will be returned in Traditional Chinese.

Hide Written and Spoken Hide Written 國 Hide Spoken粵

This page shows, from top to bottom:

a large version of the word in a traditional script font which you may need to install

: the Cantonese pronunciation of the word in jyutping. Also, CantoDict uses a unique "asterisk (*)" convention, to show readings such as jyu^4*2. For more information please see CantoDict Tone Conventions.

: the Mandarin pronunciation of the word in pinyin (only if present).
the meaning of the word, typed in by our volunteer editors
guidelines on whether the word can only be used in Spoken Cantonese etc (if nothing is present the word may be used in both Cantonese and Mandarin)
our arbitrarily assigned difficulty level
a smaller version of the character in a computerised, printed font
a list of each of the characters for the word, showing jyutping and meaning (if our dictionary contains that character)

this thread


Characters \| Words \| Sentences \| Chinese Translation \| Chinese Tests \| Forums \| Search Customise CantoDict \| My Vocab Lists \| Useful Reports and Stats \| CantoDict Forum