but 但是；不過 — 中文意思、英文定義、例句

1.連接詞A1

釋義

但是；不過

連接兩個對比想法的連接詞

a joining word that introduces a second idea which the listener would not expect after the first — often a contrasting fact, a small exception, or a polite apology before bad news.

例句

Marcus loves swimming, but he is afraid of deep water.

Marcus 喜歡游泳，但是很怕深水。

links two contrasting facts about the same person

The cake looked beautiful, but it tasted a bit too sweet.

這個蛋糕看起來很漂亮，不過嚐起來有點太甜。

joins a positive observation with a negative one

同義詞

however
more formal; usually starts a new sentence with a comma
yet
stronger contrast, slightly literary
though
informal; often added at the end of the second clause

反義詞

and
joins ideas that agree or add up rather than contrast
so
shows result rather than contrast

文法句型

clause + but + clause

用法筆記

Often opens a sentence in speech and informal writing ("But why not?"). When it joins two full clauses, a comma usually goes before "but". Distinguish from preposition sense (preposition/1) which means "except" and is followed by a noun, not a clause.

常見錯誤

❌Although the room was small, but it felt cosy.

✅Although the room was small, it felt cosy.

💡do not use "although" and "but" together; pick one.

❌I tried to call you. But, you didn't pick up.

✅I tried to call you, but you didn't pick up.

💡no comma after "but" when joining clauses; the comma goes before it.

1.介系詞B1

釋義

除了

把後面提到的人事物排除在外

used to mark the one person, thing, or place left out of a wider group — close in meaning to "apart from" or "other than", and almost always paired with words like "everyone", "nothing", or "every".

例句

Everyone but Carlos came to the wedding rehearsal on Friday.

除了 Carlos 之外，大家都來參加星期五的婚禮彩排。

everyone but + person — Carlos is the only one missing

The little girl ate nothing but rice and pickles for three days.

那個小女孩有三天除了米飯和醃菜以外什麼都沒吃。

nothing but + noun — emphasizes the only thing eaten

同義詞

except
the most neutral exact equivalent
apart from
common in British English; slightly more formal feel
other than
often used after negatives or questions

反義詞

including
adds the named item rather than leaving it out

文法句型

everyone/anything/nothing + but + noun

用法筆記

Almost always follows a word like "everyone", "anything", "nothing", "no one", "nowhere", or "every + noun". Distinguish from conjunction sense (conjunction/1): here "but" is followed by a noun phrase, not a clause, and shows exception, not contrast.

常見錯誤

❌But Carlos, everyone came to the rehearsal.

✅Everyone but Carlos came to the rehearsal.

💡"but" in this sense follows the group word; it does not start the sentence.

❌Nothing but he knew the answer.

✅Nobody but him knew the answer.

💡after "but" use the object form ("him", "me"), not the subject form.

1.副詞C1

釋義

毫無例外

用 X but X 重複句式強調絕無例外

placed between a word like "any", "anyone", or "anything" and a repeat of the same word, to stress that absolutely no exception is being allowed.

例句

Any student but any student caught cheating will fail the exam.

任何學生，毫無例外，只要被抓到作弊就會被當掉這次考試。

any + but + any — stresses no exception at all

Anyone but anyone in the village would have helped Grandma carry the heavy basket home.

村裡無論是誰，都會願意幫奶奶把那個沉重的籃子提回家。

anyone + but + anyone — emphatic "absolutely anyone"

同義詞

absolutely
common everyday emphasizer; no repetition needed
literally
informal stress word; not the same fixed pattern

文法句型

any/anyone/anything + but + repeated word

用法筆記

Frequently formal, rhetorical, or written; rare in everyday speech, where a repeated word with stress ("ANYONE") does the same job. The structure must repeat the same indefinite word on both sides of "but".

常見錯誤

❌Anyone but everyone could solve that puzzle.

✅Anyone but anyone could solve that puzzle.

💡the same word must appear on both sides of "but" for this emphatic pattern.

❌Any but any answer will do.

✅Any answer but any answer will do.

💡the indefinite needs its noun on both sides for the pattern to work naturally.

2.副詞C1

釋義

只；僅僅

正式語體中表「只有」的副詞

no more than the small amount, number, or thing that follows; close in meaning to "only" or "just", and used to make the size or extent sound small.

例句

The injured climber was but a few steps from safety when she slipped on the icy ledge.

受傷的登山者離安全的地方僅有幾步之遙時，在結冰的岩架上滑了一下。

but + number phrase — stresses how small the distance was

Sarah was but a child when her family moved from Taipei to Vancouver.

Sarah 跟著家人從台北搬到溫哥華時，還只是個小孩子。

but + a + noun — stresses youth or smallness

同義詞

only
the everyday equivalent; works in any register
just
informal everyday equivalent
merely
formal; close in tone to this sense of "but"

反義詞

many
stresses a large rather than small amount

文法句型

but + number/noun phrase

用法筆記

Formal or literary; common in older texts, news headlines, and elevated prose. In everyday English, prefer "only" or "just". Distinguish from adverb/1: this sense is not part of an emphatic "X but X" repetition; it stands alone before a number or short noun phrase.

常見錯誤

❌I but want a glass of water, please.

✅I just want a glass of water, please.

💡this sense fits before a number or quantity, not before a verb in everyday requests.

❌She works but in a small office.

✅She works in but a small office.

💡keep "but" right before the number or noun phrase whose smallness it stresses.

but

but — 連接詞

1. a joining word that introduces a second idea which the listener would not expect

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤

but — 介系詞

1. used to mark the one person, thing, or place left out of a wider group — close i

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤

but — 名詞

1. an excuse, objection, or hesitation that someone offers when told to do somethin

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤

but — 副詞

1. placed between a word like "any", "anyone", or "anything" and a repeat of the sa

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤

2. no more than the small amount, number, or thing that follows; close in meaning t

文法句型

用法筆記

常見錯誤