之但係

But (Emphatic)

Level 4Sounds Like zi1 daan6 hai6

之但係 (zi1 daan6 hai6) is a three-syllable version of the standard 'but' (但係). It is used in spoken Cantonese to add rhythmic weight and emphasize a dramatic shift or a specific 'catch' in a situation.

How It Works

1. Usage and Nuance
之但係 (zi1 daan6 hai6) functions as an emphatic adversative conjunction. It is strictly colloquial (粵文) and is used to introduce a clause that qualifies or contradicts the first part of the sentence. The addition of 之 (zi1) acts as a rhythmic filler that makes the transition feel 'heavier' and more emphatic than a simple 'but'. A similar, slightly softer alternative is 之不過 (zi1 bat1 gwo3).

2. Classical Influence
The particle 之 (zi1) is a vestige of Classical Chinese. While it originally functioned as a possessive or pronoun, in this modern colloquial context, it is used for rhythmic balance and to add weight to the transition, making the 'but' sound more deliberate.

3. Rhetorical Weight
Speakers often use this pattern when they want to:

  • Highlight a 'catch' or a hidden downside (e.g., 'It's cheap, BUT the quality is bad').
  • Express a change of heart or a dilemma.
  • Create a dramatic pause in storytelling.

4. Sentence Position
It almost always appears at the start of the second clause. In speech, it is common to have a slight pause after saying 之但係 to let the contrast sink in before finishing the thought.

5. Register
This is a purely spoken form. In formal writing (Standard Written Chinese), you would avoid this and use formal markers, as discussed in Spoken vs Written Register.

Examples (4)

  1. 部電腦係好快，之但係好貴。

    The computer is very fast, but the thing is, it's very expensive.

    Word by Word: CL computer is very fast, but-then-again very expensive.

    Here, 之但係 emphasizes the 'catch' (the high price) which offsets the benefit of the speed.

  2. 我好想去旅行，之但係冇錢喎。

    I really want to go traveling, but then again, I don't have any money.

    Word by Word: I very want go travel, but-then-again not-have money [particle].

    The speaker uses 之但係 to highlight the major obstacle preventing them from traveling.

  3. 佢份人係幾好，之但係有時太長氣。

    He is quite a nice person, but however, he's a bit long-winded sometimes.

    Word by Word: He [classifier] person is quite good, but-however have-time too long-winded.

    This uses 之但係 to introduce a personality flaw that qualifies the initial praise.

  4. 我想幫你，之但係我而家好忙。

    I want to help you, but the problem is I'm very busy right now.

    Word by Word: I want help you, but-the-problem-is I now very busy.

    The conjunction signals a conflict between the speaker's desire to help and their current situation.

Common Mistakes

  • Using it in formal writing or business letters.

    之但係，本公司無法接受閣下的要求。
    但是，本公司無法接受閣下的要求。

    之但係 is strictly colloquial. In formal contexts, use the Standard Written Chinese equivalent '但是' (daan6 si6).

  • Misplacing the '之' (zi1) particle.

    但係之佢唔嚟。
    之但係佢唔嚟。

    The particle 之 (zi1) must always come before 但係 (daan6 hai6). It cannot be placed after it.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

之但係Level 4But (Emphatic)

Learn This First

之但係 is an emphatic version of the standard Cantonese word for 'but' (但係). To use it correctly, learners should already be comfortable with basic contrastive sentences using 但係 and understand how sentence-final particles like 喎 add flavor to such emphatic statements.

Words in This Pattern

之但系