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March 24, 2026
但dàn(dan4)
The character '但' (dàn) means 'but' or 'however', indicating a contrast or exception in a statement. It is commonly used to introduce a clause that presents a different perspective or condition. Additionally, it can imply limitation, suggesting that the subject is only a part of a broader context.
Strokes7Radical亻Frequency#64DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the use of '但' reflects a nuanced way of communication, often emphasizing humility or indirectness in expressing disagreements or contrasting opinions. This mirrors the concept of '面子' (miànzi), or face-saving, which is crucial in social interactions.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'dan' (a type of traditional Chinese rice cake) that is very plain and only has a simple flavor, which reminds you that it's just 'but' one flavor among many. The character '但' consists of the radical for 'to speak' (言) on the left, suggesting that it often introduces a contrasting viewpoint in speech.
Meanings of 但
dàn(dan4)
1but
2yet
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 但
但Simplified
7Strokes
亻Radical
连词连词conjunction (conj.)Part of Speech
#64Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L2ElementaryTOCFLL2YCTL3HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 但
Podcast: 但
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AI Study Notes for 但
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse '但' with '可是' (kě shì) or '不过' (bù guò), which are also used to express contrast but carry slightly different nuances. '但' is more formal and can be used in written contexts, while the others are more conversational. Pay attention to the tone; it should be pronounced with a falling tone.
HSK Study Tips
While '但' is not officially categorized in HSK, it is essential for intermediate learners to connect it with other conjunctions and contrasting phrases they may encounter. Focus on using '但' to create complex sentences that showcase contrast.
Common Mistakes
Learners often misuse '但' in place of '和' (hé, meaning 'and'), leading to sentences like '我喜欢苹果但香蕉' (Wǒ xǐhuān píngguǒ dàn xiāngjiāo), which should be '我喜欢苹果和香蕉'. Ensure you use '但' to express contrast, not addition.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 但
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Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 旦 represents the sound.
1The sound half旦 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
2On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 但? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 但?
Decomposition of 但
IDS Structure⿰亻旦
但Full Character
=
亻ren2
left
旦dan4
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 但?
How to say but in Chinese
“but” in Chinese is但dàn
The character '但' (dàn) means 'but' or 'however', indicating a contrast or exception in a statement. It is commonly used to introduce a clause that presents a different perspective or condition. Additionally, it can imply limitation, suggesting that the subject is only a part of a broader context.
When to use 但
Learners often confuse '但' with '可是' (kě shì) or '不过' (bù guò), which are also used to express contrast but carry slightly different nuances. '但' is more formal and can be used in written contexts, while the others are more conversational. Pay attention to the tone; it should be pronounced with a falling tone.
What learners get wrong
Learners often misuse '但' in place of '和' (hé, meaning 'and'), leading to sentences like '我喜欢苹果但香蕉' (Wǒ xǐhuān píngguǒ dàn xiāngjiāo), which should be '我喜欢苹果和香蕉'. Ensure you use '但' to express contrast, not addition.
Write 但
但
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Practice writing 但 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 但
但 functions as a conjunction — it connects clauses or phrases. Many Chinese conjunctions come in pairs (虽然…但是…, 因为…所以…); use them at the front of the clauses they link. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
