可是

Character by character

• 可kě5 strokesHSK 2may, can, -able; possibly
• 是shì9 strokesHSK 1indeed, yes, right; to be; demonstrative pronoun, this, that

Each character links to its stroke order page with a tracing and a writing exercise.

Words with the same characters

These words share at least one character with 可是. Reading them together is how the character starts to stick — the same characters in a different context.

• 是shìHSK 1

  to be (followed by substantives only); correct; right; true; (respectful acknowledgement of a command) very well; (adverb for emphatic assertion)

• 可以kě yǐHSK 2

  can; may; possible; able to; not bad; pretty good

• 可kěHSK 5

  (prefix) can; may; able to; -able; to approve; to permit; to suit; (particle used for emphasis) certainly; very

• 就是jiù shìHSK 3

  exactly; precisely; only; simply; just; (used correlatively with 也) even; even if

• 但是dàn shìHSK 2

  but; however

• 可能kě néngHSK 2

  might (happen); possible; probable; possibility; probability; maybe; perhaps

• 还是hái shiHSK 1

  still (as before); had better; unexpectedly; or

• 只是zhǐ shìHSK 3

  merely; only; just; nothing but; simply; but; however

• 是否shì fǒuHSK 4

  whether (or not); if; is or isn't

• 总是zǒng shìHSK 3

  always

• 可爱kě àiHSK 2

  adorable; cute; lovely

• 而是ér shìHSK 4

  rather

• 于是yú shìHSK 4

  thereupon; as a result; consequently; thus; hence

• 正是zhèng shìHSK 2

  is precisely

• 要是yào shiHSK 3

  (coll.) if

• 可怜kě liánHSK 5

  pitiful; pathetic; to have pity on

• 可怕kě pàHSK 2

  awful; dreadful; fearful; formidable; frightful; scary; hideous; horrible; terrible; terribly

• 算是suàn shìHSK 6

  considered to be; at last

• 可惜kě xīHSK 5

  it is a pity; what a pity; unfortunately

• 或是huò shìHSK 5

  or; either one or the other

• 是不是shì bù shìHSK 1

  is or isn't; yes or no; whether or not

• 也就是说yě jiù shì shuōHSK 7

  in other words; that is to say; so; thus

• 可靠kě kàoHSK 3

  reliable

• 倒是dào shiHSK 5

  contrary to what one might expect; actually; contrariwise; why don't you