‘They won’t even discuss the problem.’ ‘But how stupid!’
“他们甚至都不会讨论这个问题。”“那真是愚蠢啊!”
8somebody cannot but do somethingformalCAN used to say that someone has to do something or cannot stop themselves from doing it 某人不得不做某事;某人禁不住要做某事
I could not but admire her.
我不得不佩服她。
9 spoken used when disagreeing with someone 可是〔用来提出异议〕
‘It was a good idea.’ ‘But it didn’t work.’
“这是个好主意。”“可是也没有用呀。”
10EMPHASIZE spoken used to emphasize a word or statement 〔用来加强词语或陈述的语气〕
It’ll be a great party – everyone, but everyone, is coming.
这将是一个大聚会——每个人,对,每个人都会来。
They’re rich, but I mean rich.
他们很有钱,非常非常有钱。
11INTRODUCE spoken used to change the subject of a conversation 无论如何,反正,好〔用于改变话题〕
But now to the main question.
好,现在谈谈主要问题。
But tell me, are you really planning to retire?
那你告诉我,你真的打算退休吗?
12 spoken used after expressions such as ‘Excuse me’ and ‘I’msorry’ 〔用于excuse me和I’m sorry等后面〕
Excuse me, but I’m afraid this is a no-smoking area.
对不起,这里是无烟区。
THESAURUS
but conjunction used when linking two words or phrases that seem opposite or very different in meaning. Don’t use but at the beginning of a sentence in written English 但是,然而〔用于连接两个意思相反或不同的单词或短语;书面语中不要用于句首〕
The plant’s leaves are big, but its flowers are quite small.
这种植物叶子很大,但花很小。
Her books are fascinating but often rather disturbing.
她的书妙趣横生,但也往往令人不安。
nMany French dishes are basically simple, but they can take a long time to prepare.
nMost of us value human life, but but some people think of animals as being equally important.
although conjunction used when contrasting one clause with another in the same sentence 虽然,尽管〔用于比较同一句子中的两个分句〕
Although you are in the middle of the city, you feel as if you are in the countryside.
虽然你是在市中心,却有身处乡间的感觉。
nThe windmill is still in good working order, although it has not been used since the 1950s.
I enjoyed German although I wasn’t very good at it.
我喜欢德语,虽然我说得不好。
nAlthough lack of sleep causes some problems, it has a relatively small effect on performance at work.
however conjunction used when saying something that seems different or surprising after your previous statement. It is usually used in the middle of a sentence, separated from the rest of the sentence by commas. It can also come at the beginning 不过,但是〔一般用于句中,以逗号隔开,也可以用于句首〕
Jack and his family managed to escape before the soldiers arrived. Other families in the village, however, were less lucky.
杰克和他家人赶在士兵到来之前逃走了,但其他人家就没那么幸运了。
nTheir economy was incredibly successful in the 1980s. Since then, however, there has been a big rise in unemployment.
The town is a long way from the nearest big city. However, there is a good bus service.
该镇离最近的大城市很远,不过坐公共汽车很方便。
nHe began his academic career as a mathematician. However, his main achievements were in the field of nuclear physics.
nevertheless/nonetheless conjunction used when saying something that seems different or surprising after your previous statement. It is used at the beginning or end of a sentence 然而,尽管如此〔用于句首或句末〕
nA series of studies 20 years ago suggested that there was a link between watching violent films and violent behaviour. Nevertheless, the results remain highly controversial.
It was certainly a terrible accident. Nevertheless, air travel is still the safest form of transport.
那次事故的确很可怕,不过乘飞机旅行仍然是最安全的交通方式。
The weather turned bad early in the day, but the festival was a great success nonetheless.
那天一大早天气很糟,尽管如此,节庆活动仍然非常成功。
nIt was very hard digging in the dry ground, but the work was satisfying nevertheless.
while/whereas /weərˈæz/ conjunction used when making comparisons and saying that something is true of one person, thing, or situation, but it is different for another. They are used when contrasting one clause with another in the same sentence 然而,可是〔用于比较同一句子中的两个分句〕
nTaxes make up 62% of the price of a litre of petrol in France, whereas in Britain, the tax is 75%.
Some people visit their doctor once every few weeks, while others may not visit a doctor for several years.
有些人隔几周就去看一趟医生,但也有些人可能好几年都不看一次。
Whereas in most of the world they drive on the right, in the UK and Japan they drive on the left.
世界上大部分地方都是靠右行驶,但在英国和日本则是靠左行驶。
by contrast formal used when making comparisons and saying that a person, thing, or situation is very different from the one you have just mentioned. It is used when referring back to the previous sentence 相反,相比之下〔用于重提前句中的人、事物或情况并作比较〕
The surface temperature on Venus is higher than the boiling point of water. Mars, by contrast, is very cold.
金星的表面温度要高于水的沸点,相反火星表面则非常寒冷。
nA report by the FBI shows that 26% of female murder victims in 1995 were killed by their husbands or boyfriends. By contrast, only 3% of male victims were killed by their wives or girlfriends.
Examples from the Corpus
but• Excuse me, but aren't you Julie's sister?• She tried to read the message, but couldn't.• Momhated the movie, butDad thought it was good.• Tom's grandfather is over 80, but he still plays golf.• Carla was supposed to come tonight, but her husband needed the car.• That's why I've been so busy. But how are you, anyway?• Cara's going to the concert, but I'm not.• "Gone with the Wind' was a great movie, but it was a little long.• In the US it is normal for the police to carryguns, but not in Britain.• But now to the mainissue.• They struggled in the first half, but still won 98-82.• I calledbut there was no one there.• We had no alternativebut to fire him.• They aren't doing this to make money, but to help the church.• It's an expensivebut very usefulbook.• He's short and not really handsome, but women still find him attractive.• I'm sorry, but you can't smoke in here.
but• Yes, it's all go on the rumourexchange and let me stress that these are but a few of the juiciest.• They're rich, but I mean rich!• This was but one of Cora-Beth's surprises.• You can buttry.