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. 可是；但是；然而
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'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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Place the saucepan over moderate heat until the cider is very hot but not boiling.
把炖锅置于中火上加热，直到苹果酒变得很烫，但不要加热到沸腾。
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He not only wants to be taken seriously as a musician, but as a poet too.
他不仅希望被人当成一个真正的音乐家，还希望被看成一个诗人。
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. 但是；不过
SYN however, still, yet, nevertheless
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. （用于表示歉意）但是
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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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I'm sorry, but it's nothing to do with you.
对不起，但是这跟你没关系。
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Forgive my asking, but you're not very happy, are you?
恕我冒昧，你不太高兴，是吗？
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. （引出下文，表示惊讶、难以置信、拒绝或抗议）但是，可是 [feelings]
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'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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'Somebody wants you on the telephone' — 'But no one knows I'm here!'
“有人打电话找你。”—“可没有人知道我在这里啊！”
5 PREP 除了 But is used to mean 'except'. 除了
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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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He didn't speak anything but Greek.
他只会说希腊语。
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The crew of the ship gave them nothing but bread to eat.
船上的工作人员除了面包什么也不给他们吃。
SYN except (for), save, bar, barring
6 ADV [ADVERB n] 仅仅;只;才 But is used to mean 'only'. 仅仅;只;才 [formal]
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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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...Napoleon and Marie Antoinette, to name but two who had stayed in the great state rooms.
只提两位在贵宾房住过的人，就是拿破仑和玛丽·安托瓦妮特。
SYN only, just, simply, merely
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. 借口；托词
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'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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He committed a crime, no ifs or buts about it.
他犯了罪，这是无可争辩的。
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. 不得不；非…不可；必然 [formal, emphasis]
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. 倘没有；要不是
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...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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But for you, they might have given us the slip.
要不是你，我们可能已经被他们甩掉了。
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. （表示与前面说过的话略有矛盾）不过，然而
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. （表示前述事情并不奇怪）不过，但是
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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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Sonia might not speak the English language well, but then who did?
索尼娅的英语也许说得不好，但谁又说得好呢？
12 all but→see: all anything but→see: anything
| Usage | but and yet |
| But is used to add something to what has been said: Lisa tried to bake a cake, but she didn't have enough sugar. Yet is used to indicate an element of surprise: He doesn't eat much, yet he is gaining weight. |
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