The Chinese word 不过 is a common conjunction that is used to express a contrast or to indicate that something is not a big deal or not as significant as it may seem. It can be translated to English as “however”, “but”, “just”, “only”, or “merely”. For example, if someone says “我很忙，不过我会尽快完成这个任务”, it means “I am very busy, but I will try to complete this task as soon as possible”. In this case, 不过 is used to contrast the busy schedule with the commitment to complete the task.
Translation
Adverb: only, just, no more than
Conjunction: but, however
Pronunciation
Example Sentences
| Chinese | Pinyin | Engish |
|---|---|---|
| 我们可以去看电影，不过得先吃饭 | wǒmen kěyǐ qù kàn diànyǐng, bùguò děi xiān chīfàn | We can go watch a movie, but we have to eat first |
| 明天天气不错，不过要带伞 | míngtiān tiānqì bùcuò, bùguò yào dài sǎn | The weather will be nice tomorrow, but we should bring an umbrella |
| 这个餐厅的菜很好吃，不过价格有点贵 | zhège cāntīng de cài hěn hǎochī, bùguò jiàgé yǒudiǎn guì | The food at this restaurant is delicious, but the prices are a bit expensive |
| 他很聪明，不过有时候有点懒 | tā hěn cōngmíng, bùguò yǒushíhòu yǒudiǎn lǎn | He is very smart, but sometimes a bit lazy |
| 这个项目很有挑战性，不过我们一定能完成 | zhège xiàngmù hěn yǒu tiǎozhàn xìng, bùguò wǒmen yídìng néng wánchéng | This project is very challenging, but we can definitely complete it |
| 昨天晚上太晚了，不过我还是早起了 | zuótiān wǎnshàng tài wǎnle, bùguò wǒ háishì zǎoqǐle | I stayed up too late last night, but I still woke up early |
HSK
不过 is part of HSK Level 4 in HSK 2.0. In the newer HSK 3.0 it is part of HSK Level 2.
Learning Card
