daan6但

Jyutpingdaan6

Yaledaahn

連詞Very common

Definition

But; however; used to connect sentences to show a transition or contrast.

colloquialcommunication

How it's used

Using just the single character 但 is considered formal or literary in Cantonese. In everyday speech, it is almost always expanded to 但係 to maintain a natural flow. The form 但係 functions as the standard conjunction for expressing contrast between two clauses.

Examples

keoi5佢hou2好cung1聰ming4明，daan6但hai6係m4唔zung1鍾ji3意duk6讀syu1書。

He is very smart, but he doesn't like studying.

le1呢gin2件saam1衫hou2好leng3靚，daan6但gaa3價cin4錢gwai3貴zo2咗di1啲。

This shirt is very pretty, but the price is a bit high.

Common phrases

daan6但hai6係

but; however

Common mistake

Avoid using 但 alone in casual conversation, as it sounds stiff or like you are reading from a textbook. Always append 係 to sound like a native speaker.