kundi
kundî with stress marks
but; on the contrary
Usage Note
Kundi is a compound of kung (if) and di (not), meaning 'but rather' or 'if not', and introduces a contradicting or corrective clause similar to English 'but' or 'rather'. It is common in both spoken and written Tagalog and is an essential conjunction for expressing alternatives.
Examples
" Hindi tubig kundi gatas. "
Natural Translation
Not water but milk.
Literal Translation
Not water but milk.
" Hindi siya umalis kundi nanatili sa bahay. "
Natural Translation
He/She didn't leave but stayed at home.
Literal Translation
Not he/she left but remained in-the house.
" Hindi siya umiiyak dahil sa sakit kundi dahil sa tuwa na muli niyang nakita ang kanyang matagal nang nawawalang ina. "
Natural Translation
She was crying not because of pain but because of joy at finally seeing her long-lost mother again.
Literal Translation
Not she crying because of pain but because of joy that again she saw the her long already lost mother.
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