Baring the chest at dawn; as a function word, "only, merely" — a narrow focus. "But, however" — the common pivot to an opposite or unexpected point. A person (亻) standing before the sunrise (旦) — "only" can block the light, "but" the day still breaks.
only; merely
虽然 starts a contrast; without 但 or 但是, the second half often sounds unfinished.
Two but-words fight for the same slot. Pick one pairing.
A comma right after bare 但 often sounds clipped. Bare 但 usually sits directly before the clause.
Not exactly. 但 is tighter and often more written; 但是 is heavier and more spoken.
Both mean but, but they do not have the same weight. 但 is short and often appears in writing, headlines, or quick clauses. 但是 is heavier and more common when you want clear spoken emphasis. “最近我每周都游两三次，但看电影是我最大的爱好！” (Lately I swim two or three times a week, but watching movies is my biggest hobby!) ── [《你喜欢看老电影吗？》](/read/do-you-like-old-movies#s11)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Spoken emphasis | 但是，我不想去。 | 但，我不想去。 |
| Bare 但 link | 我喜欢游泳，但不喜欢跑步。 | 我喜欢游泳，但，不喜欢跑步。 |
| Double but-words | 但是我不想去。 | 但但是我不想去。 |
Yes, especially in writing; in casual chat 但是 usually sounds smoother.
Chinese does not ban 但 at the start of a sentence. The catch is tone: bare 但 can sound clipped or article-like. In WeChat or speech, 但是 softens the turn and sounds more normal. If you are writing a tight comment or essay, 但 at the start is perfectly fine.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Formal article | 但问题没有解决。 | 但，问题没有解决。 |
| WeChat chat | 但是我不想去。 | 但我不想去。 |
| Mid-sentence link | 我喜欢游泳，但不喜欢跑步。 | 我喜欢游泳。但我不喜欢跑步。 |
For simple contrasts, keep 但 or 但是; dropping it often sounds unfinished.
虽然 means although and sets up the contrast. 但 or 但是 delivers the other half. In fast speech you can sometimes drop it if the second half already has 还是. For beginners, keep 但 or 但是 in the sentence.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Simple contrast | 虽然累，但很开心。 | 虽然累，很开心。 |
| Emphatic contrast | 虽然累，但是很开心。 | 虽然累，但但是很开心。 |
Follow how this word unfolds across the narrative arc of this graded story.
In this dialogue, two people chat while waiting outside a cinema. You'll hear common phrases for talking about hobbies, sports, and movie preferences.
最近我每周都游两三次， 但 看电影是我最大的爱好！
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