ho2 si6可是
Jyutpingho2 si6
Yalehó sih
Definition
But; however; yet. Used to connect clauses with contrasting meanings.
colloquialcommunication
How it's used
Although 可是 is understood in Cantonese, it is considered a Mandarin-influenced loanword that sounds formal or literary in a spoken context. Native speakers almost exclusively use 但係 to express contrast in daily life. Using 可是 in casual conversation can make you sound like you are reading from a textbook or script.
Related words
Common phrases
but even so
Common mistake
Learners often use 可是 because it appears in written Chinese, but it feels unnatural and stiff in spoken Cantonese. Stick to 但係 for all everyday situations.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
