但 (dàn) - but & however

但Tone 4

dàn ｜ 7 strokes ｜ radical: 亻

橙丁

但 · dàn

but;

however;

only;

merely

buthoweveronly

Usage highlights

butnot onlyhoweveronly childnonethelessmerely

Synonyms

Antonyms

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • I want to go, but (但是) I'm busy.
  • He is not only (不但) smart but also diligent.
  • She is the only (但) child in her family.
  • We have no choice but (但) to wait.

Collocations

  • but(但是)
  • not only(不但)
  • however(然而)
  • only child(独生子女)
  • nonetheless(但)
  • merely(但)

Idioms

  • But I'm afraid(但愿如此)
  • I wish it were so(但愿)
  • But what can be done(但求无过)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Used as a conjunction in classical and modern Chinese to express contrast or limitation.
  • Appears frequently in both formal and informal contexts to connect contrasting ideas.
  • The character combines the person radical (亻) with the phonetic component 旦 (dàn).

FAQ