但 means “however, provided that”

ただし · tadashi

Also: but

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

ただし

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

タン

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 7 strokes

The story

A person (亻) beside 旦, the sun just over the horizon: picture someone raising a finger at dawn to add one condition. 但し is "however" or "provided that", and a Japanese receipt has a 但し line saying what the money was for.

Used in 但し (tadashi, however/provided that) and 但し書き (tadashigaki, proviso)

More from Formal Words

• 且 moreover
• 僅 only
• 及 reach
• 故 cause
• 為 do
• 致 bring about
• 是 right
• 須 must
• 殊 especially
• 尚 still
• 那 that
• 該 the said

Learn 但 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.