Is 可 a colloquial way to say 可是？ (and other ways to say "but")
I've seen people say 可 to mean "but," but I learned that "but"=可是，但是，or 不過。Is 可 just a casual way to say 可是?

(Actually, is there any difference between any of these other ways to say "but"--like frequency used, formality, etc.?)Also, are there any more words that can be shortened like this? Like can you say 但 for 但是? Are there a lot of words like this?

Question

Is 可 a colloquial way to say 可是？ (and other ways to say "but")
I've seen people say 可 to mean "but," but I learned that "but"=可是，但是，or 不過。Is 可 just a casual way to say 可是?

(Actually, is there any difference between any of these other ways to say "but"--like frequency used, formality, etc.?)Also, are there any more words that can be shortened like this? Like can you say 但 for 但是? Are there a lot of words like this?

Answer

可是 and 但是 are just like "but on the other hand" in English, while 可 and 但 mean "but". 是 here can be regarded as "situation" or "case".

可是, 但是, 可, 但, 不过 are relatively informal and mostly used in oral language. 然而 is more formal and people don't speak it very often. 然 is also a shorten form for 然而, but it is much more formal and always used in ancient Chinese.

Answer

First up, 可 is just a casual way to say 可是.
secondly, 但是 is a normal and frequent word. I suggest you use 但是 as soon as possible.

Answer

Yes, often people will use 但 for 但是 and 可 for 可是。

Answers · 3

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