/bət;strong form bʌt ||; bət; bʌt/conj 1 used for introducing an idea which contrasts with or is different from what has just been said （用于带出与前面相反或相异的意思）但是，不过，只是: The weather will be sunny but cold. 阳光普照，但天气寒冷。Theirs is not the first but the second house on the left. 从左边数起的第二幢便是他们的房子，可不是头一幢。James hasn't got a car but his sister has. 詹姆斯没有车，而他妹妹有。
2 however; and yet 可是；然而: She's been learning Italian for five years but she doesn't speak it very well. 她的意大利语学了五年，可是还讲得不大好。I'd love to come but I can't make it till 8 o'clock. 我很乐意来，但要8点才能到。
3 used when you are saying sorry for sth 为某事表示歉意或麻烦别人时用: Excuse me, but is your name David Harries? 对不起，请问您是戴维˙哈里斯吗？I'm sorry, but I can't stay any longer. 对不起，我不能再呆啦。
4 used for introducing a statement that shows that you are surprised or annoyed or that you disagree （用于表示惊讶、厌烦、不同意等）: ‘Here's the book you lent me.’ ‘But it's all dirty and torn!’ “这是你借给我的书。”“可是你把它弄得又脏又破的！”‘But that's not possible!’ “然而，这是不可能的事！”
but then however; on the other hand 不过；另一方面:
We could go swimming. But then perhaps it's too cold. 我们可以去游泳，不过天气也许太冷了。He's brilliant at the piano. But then so was his father (= however, this is not surprising because...). 他弹得一手好钢琴。不过这也不奇怪，他父亲也弹得好。