but

conj.

1. 而；相反
   used to introduce a word or phrase that contrasts with what was said before
   1. 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。
   2. 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。
   3. 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。
2. 然而；尽管如此
   however; despite this
   1. I'd asked everybody but only two people came.
      每个人我都请了，却只来了两个人。
   2. By the end of the day we were tired but happy.
      一天结束时，我们很累，但很高兴。
3. （表示歉意时说）
   used when you are saying sorry about sth
   1. I'm sorry but I can't stay any longer.
      很抱歉，我不能再待下去了。
4. （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
   1. But that's not possible!
      但那是不可能的！
   2. ‘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。”
5. 除…外；只有
   except
   1. I had no choice but to sign the contract.
      我别无选择，只好签了合同。
6. （重复字词前用，加强语气）
   used before repeating a word in order to emphasize it
   1. 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。
7. （强调一贯真实）
   used to emphasize that sth is always true
   1. 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。

prep.

1. 除了；除…之外
   except; apart from
   1. We've had nothing but trouble with this car.
      我们这辆车净出毛病。
   2. The problem is anything but easy.
      这个问题一点也不简单。
   3. Who but Rosa could think of something like that?
      除了罗莎，谁会想得到那种事？
   4. Everyone was there but him.
      除他之外，大家都在。
   5. 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。
   6. 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.

1. 只有；仅仅
   only
   1. 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。
   2. 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

1. 借口；推辞
   a reason that sb gives for not doing sth or not agreeing
   1. ‘Let us have no buts,’ he said firmly. ‘You are coming.’
      “别找借口了。”他坚定地说，“你得来。”
   2. 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。

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.
   1. '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。”
   2. 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。
   3. 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.
   1. 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。
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.
   1. Please excuse me, but there is something I must say...
      不好意思，但有些话我必须说。
   2. I'm sorry, but it's nothing to do with you...
      对不起，但是这跟你没关系。
   3. 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.
   1. '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？”
   2. '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'.
   1. 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。
   2. He didn't speak anything but Greek...
      他只会说希腊语。
   3. 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。
6. ADV 仅仅;只;才
   But is used to mean 'only'.
   1. 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。
   2. ...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。
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.
   1. '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。
   2. 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.
   1. 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。
   2. She could not but congratulate him.
      她只能祝贺他。
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.
   1. ...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
   2. 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.
    1. 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。
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.
    1. 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。
    2. 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

1. It was great to begin with but now it's difficult.
   一开始非常好，但现在可就难了。
2. '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。”
3. 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。
4. 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。
5. 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。
6. Please excuse me, but there is something I must say
   不好意思，但有些话我必须说。
7. I'm sorry, but it's nothing to do with you
   对不起，但是这跟你没关系。
8. Forgive my asking, but you're not very happy, are you?
   恕我冒昧，你不太高兴，是吗？
9. '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？”
10. '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！”
11. He didn't speak anything but Greek
    他只会说希腊语。
12. 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。
13. 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。
14. '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。
15. He committed a crime, no ifs or buts about it.
    他犯了罪，这是无可争辩的。
16. 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。
17. She could not but congratulate him.
    她只能祝贺他。
18. 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。
19. 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。
20. 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。
21. 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？
22. I don't want to leave, but I can't go on.
    我不想离开，但我继续不下去了。
23. I hate to admit it, but you were right.
    我不得不承认，你是对的。
24. I'll need to talk with you, but there's no hurry
    我得和你谈谈，但不着急。
25. Can you come at 10.30? I know it's inconvenient for you, but I must see you
    你能10点半来吗？我知道你不方便，但是我必须见你。
26. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm hungry
    我不知道你们怎么样，但我是饿了。
27. I don't know about you, but I've had just about enough of this.
    我不知道你怎么想，但我已经受够了。
28. I'm sorry, but I must go now
    很抱歉我得马上走了。
29. It's true that I seem to have forgotten you, but it only seems that way.
    我看起来好像确实是把你忘记了，但那只是看起来而已。

  except but except for save【导航词义：除…外】

  except prep. 除…之外

〔辨析〕侧重于排除在外，即从整体里除去。

  but prep. 除…之外

〔辨析〕词义同except，可换用，但语气较弱，且常与 nothing, nobody, anywhere, everything 等词连用。

  except for prep. 除了，除…之外

〔辨析〕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。

  save prep. 〈正式〉除了，除…之外

〔辨析〕词义同 except，可换用，但略显过时。

conj.

but for

• 倘若没有；若非；要不是
  if it were not for
  1. He would have played but for a knee injury.
     他要不是膝部有伤的话，就上场了。
• （表示不包括在内）除了…外
  except for
  1. The square was empty but for a couple of cabs.
     除了几辆出租汽车外，广场上空空如也。

but then (again)

• 然而；另一方面
  however; on the other hand
  1. He might agree. But then again he might have a completely different opinion.
     他可能同意，但也可能会意见完全相反。
• （引出解释或原因）
  used before a statement that explains or gives a reason for what has just been said
  1. She speaks very good Italian. But then she did live in Rome for a year (= so it's not surprising) .
     她的意大利语讲得很流利。不过她毕竟在罗马生活过一年。

you cannot/could not but…

• 只有；除…之外别无可能
  used to show that everything else is impossible except the thing that you are saying
  1. What could he do but forgive her? (= that was the only thing possible)
     他不原谅她又能怎么办？

adv

1. and nothing more
   1. I was merely asking
   2. it is simply a matter of time
   3. just a scratch
   4. he was only a child
   5. hopes that last but a moment

   Synonym:    merelysimplyjustonly