but
- conj.但是;而;然而;相反;尽管如此;表示歉意时说;除…外;（强调一贯真实）
- prep.除了;除…之外
- adv.只有;仅仅
- n.借口;推辞
复数： buts
butconj.
而；相反
used to introduce a word or phrase that contrasts with what was said before
I got it wrong. It wasn't the red one but the blue one.
我弄错了。不是红的那个，是蓝的那个。
His mother won't be there, but his father might.
他母亲不会在那里，但他父亲也许会去。
It isn't that he lied exactly, but he did tend to exaggerate.
他不见得是真的说谎，但他的确是有意夸大。
然而；尽管如此
however; despite this
I'd asked everybody but only two people came.
每个人我都请了，却只来了两个人。
By the end of the day we were tired but happy.
一天结束时，我们很累，但很高兴。
（表示歉意时说）
used when you are saying sorry about sth
I'm sorry but I can't stay any longer.
很抱歉，我不能再待下去了。
（引出下文，表示吃惊、生气或不同意）
used to introduce a statement that shows that you are surprised or annoyed, or that you disagree
But that's not possible!
但那是不可能的！
‘Here's the money I owe you.’ ‘But that's not right─it was only £10.’
“这是我欠你的钱。”“但这不对呀——我只借了10英镑给你。”
除…外；只有
except
I had no choice but to sign the contract.
我别无选择，只好签了合同。
（重复字词前用，加强语气）
used before repeating a word in order to emphasize it
Nothing, but nothing would make him change his mind.
没有什么，绝对没有什么会使他改变主意。
（强调一贯真实）
used to emphasize that sth is always true
She never passed her old home but she thought of the happy years she had spent there (= she always thought of them) .
她每次经过自己的旧居，都会想起在那里度过的幸福岁月。
used to show that everything else is impossible except the thing that you are saying
他不原谅她又能怎么办？
What could he do but forgive her? (= that was the only thing possible)
prep.
除了；除…之外
except; apart from
We've had nothing but trouble with this car.
我们这辆车净出毛病。
The problem is anything but easy.
这个问题一点也不简单。
Who but Rosa could think of something like that?
除了罗莎，谁会想得到那种事？
Everyone was there but him.
除他之外，大家都在。
I came last but one in the race (= I wasn't last but next to last) .
我赛跑得了倒数第二名。
Take the first turning but one (= not the first one but the one after it) .
在第二个拐弯处转弯。
adv.
只有；仅仅
only
I don't think we'll manage it. Still, we can but try.
我想我们应付不了这事。但不妨试试。
There were a lot of famous people there: Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, to name but two.
那里有很多名人：只提两个名字吧，有汤姆∙汉克斯和朱莉娅∙罗伯茨。
noun
usually pl.借口；推辞
a reason that sb gives for not doing sth or not agreeing
‘Let us have no buts,’ he said firmly. ‘You are coming.’
“别找借口了。”他坚定地说，“你得来。”
With so many ifs and buts , it is easier to wait and see.
有这么多托词，还是静观其变吧。
but
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1
CONJ-COORD 可是；但是；然而
You use but to introduce something which contrasts with what you have just said, or to introduce something which adds to what you have just said.'You said you'd stay till tomorrow.' — 'I know, Bel, but I think I would rather go back.'...
“你说过你要呆到明天的。”——“我知道，贝尔，但我还是想回去。”
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2
CONJ-COORD 但是；不过
You use but when you are about to add something further in a discussion or to change the subject.They need to recruit more people into the prison service. But another point I'd like to make is that many prisons were built in the nineteenth century.
监狱需要招募更多的工作人员。但我想补充一点，很多监狱都是在19世纪建造的。
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3
CONJ-COORD （用于表示歉意）但是
You use but after you have made an excuse or apologized for what you are just about to say.Please excuse me, but there is something I must say...
不好意思，但有些话我必须说。
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4
CONJ-COORD （引出下文，表示惊讶、难以置信、拒绝或抗议）但是，可是
You use but to introduce a reply to someone when you want to indicate surprise, disbelief, refusal, or protest.'I don't think I should stay in this house' — 'But why?'...
“我觉得我不应该再呆在这所房子里。”——“可是为什么？”
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5
PREP 除了
But is used to mean 'except'.Europe will be represented in all but two of the seven races...
除了两项赛事之外，欧洲在其余5项赛事中都有代表参加。
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6
ADV 仅仅;只;才
But is used to mean 'only'.This is but one of the methods used to try and get alcoholics to give up drink.
这只是为让那些酗酒者戒酒所尝试的方法之一。
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7
N-PLURAL 借口；托词
You use buts in expressions like 'no buts' and 'ifs and buts' to refer to reasons someone gives for not doing something, especially when you do not think that they are good reasons.'B-b-b-b-but' I stuttered. — 'Never mind the buts,' she ranted...
“但——但——但是”，我结结巴巴地说道。——“别跟我讲那些‘但是’了。”她咆哮道。
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8
PHRASE 不得不；非…不可；必然
You use cannot but ,could not but, and cannot help but when you want to emphasize that you believe something must be true and that there is no possibility of anything else being the case.The pistol was positioned where I couldn't help but see it...
手枪放在我抬眼就能看见的地方。
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9
PHRASE 倘没有；要不是
You use but for to introduce the only factor that causes a particular thing not to happen or not to be completely true....the small square below, empty but for a delivery van and a clump of palm trees...
下面的小广场空空荡荡,只有一辆送货车和几棵棕榈树
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10
PHRASE （表示与前面说过的话略有矛盾）不过，然而
You use but then or but then again before a remark which slightly contradicts what you have just said.My husband spends hours in the bathroom, but then again so do I.
我丈夫常占用浴室好几个小时，不过我也是这样。
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11
PHRASE （表示前述事情并不奇怪）不过，但是
You use but then before a remark which suggests that what you have just said should not be regarded as surprising.He was a fine young man, but then so had his father been...
他年轻有为，不过他父亲也曾经是。
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12
all but→ see:all
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We got there early but Mike had already left .
我们及早到了那里，但是迈克已经离开了。
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I know you don 't like her but try not to make it so obvious .
我明白你不喜欢她，但是尽量别表露得那么明显。
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There have been some problems but basically it 's a good system .
虽然出现过一些问题，但这基本上仍不失为一个好系统。
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She didn 't get paid much but it was all good experience .
她得到的报酬虽然不高，但有极好的体验。
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I used to smoke but I gave up two years ago .
我过去抽烟，但两年前就戒了。
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He might get there in time , but I can 't be sure .
他有可能准时到达，但我不敢肯定。
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The idea was good , but the execution was poor .
这个主意倒不错，可实施情况不理想。
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I 'd asked everybody but only two people came .
每个人我都请了，却只来了两个人。
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All these students are good , but some work harder than others .
所有这些学生都不错，但有的用功多些，有的用功少些。
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He may look fierce , but he means no harm .
他可能看上去很凶，但并无恶意。
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It was a difficult decision but we decided to risk it .
这件事决心难下，但我们决定冒险一试。
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She was not only intelligent but also very musical .
她不仅聪明，而且极具音乐天分。
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The system is set up but it needs some fine-tuning .
该系统已装配好，但需要一些细小调整。
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I didn 't really want to go but he insisted .
我并不真的想去，但他硬要我去。
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Sorry to trouble you , but could you tell me the time ?
对不起打扰您一下，请问几点了？
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Business isn 't good but we 're managing to hold our own .
生意不景气，但我们正设法坚持下去。
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I think this is their house , but I 'm not sure .
我想这是他们家，但不敢肯定。
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We can try that ─ but whether it 'll work is another matter .
我们可以试试看——但行不行则是另一回事。
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She died ten years ago but her memory lives on .
她十年前就去世了，但她却留在人们的记忆中。
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Who but Rosa could think of something like that ?
除了罗莎，谁会想得到那种事？
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She was almost 90 , but still very robust .
她将近90岁了，但身体仍然十分强健。
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He 's not very reliable , but I like him just the same .
他不太可靠，但我还是喜欢他。
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Everything was going well but then we hit trouble .
原本一切都进行得很顺利，但后来我们遇到了麻烦。
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He may seem charming , but it 's all show !
他看起来可能惹人喜爱，但那都是表面的！
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Many years later I returned to Africa but that 's another story .
多年以后我又重返非洲，不过这是后话了。
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We have our differences , but she 's still my sister .
我们之间虽然不和，但她仍旧是我的妹妹。
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We may talk of beautiful things but beauty itself is abstract .
我们尽可谈论美的事物，但美本身却是抽象的。
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I could have won the game but decided to let her win .
我本可以赢得那场比赛，但还是决定让她赢了。
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I called the police but they weren 't very helpful .
我叫了警察，但他们不太肯帮忙。
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I had no choice but to sign the contract .
我别无选择，只好签了合同。
侧重于排除在外，即从整体里除去。
I can answer all the questions except this one.
除了这个问题外，我可以回答所有的问题。
They all went to sleep except Tony.
除托尼之外，他们都去睡觉了。
词义同except，可换用，但语气较弱，且常与 nothing, nobody, anywhere, everything 等词连用。
We had nothing to do but/except wait.
除了等待之外，我们一筹莫展。
There was no one but/except me in the classroom.
教室里只有我一个人。
多用于引出使陈述不能完全成立的事物，有时也强调美中不足之处，通常只可后接名词或代词。
Your composition is good except for some spelling mistakes.
除了有几个拼写错误外，你的作文整体上写得很好。
The bus was empty except for one young lady.
公共汽车上很空，只有一位年轻的女士。
词义同 except，可换用，但略显过时。
We're all here save/except Tom.
除了汤姆，我们都在。
The window is never opened save/except in summer.
这扇窗户只在夏天打开。
- 习语