لَكِنَّbut

Example sentences

• وَلَكِنَّهُ إِذَا أَحَسَّ بِهِ اِلتَفَتَ إِلَيْهِ فَيَضْعُفُ سَعْيُهُ،

  But when he senses him, he turns toward him, and his running weakens.

  وَلَكِنَّهُ — but he. Two pieces: the wa- ties this to the discourse, and the rest is the heavy adversative 'but/yet', carrying -hu ('he') as its subject. This 'but' is the strong, grabbing kind that takes the following pronoun as its subject in the object-style form, setting up a firm contrast: the gazelle is faster, yet... So the word pivots the argument while fixing 'he' as its topic.

  From: Choosing Good Companions →

• وَلَكِنَّ لَامَهُ لِأَجَلِ الْمُصِيبَةِ الَّتِي لَحِقَتْهُمْ بِالْخَطِيَّةِ

  But he reproached him for the calamity that had befallen them because of the sin.

  وَلَكِن — and but. This couples a linking 'and' to a strong contrastive 'but', the particle that overturns the expectation set up before it. Arabic marks a sharp 'however' with its own word and, here, also throws emphasis onto the clause that corrects the previous thought.

  From: Patience Under Decree →

• ولكنك فعلت ليقال جواد، فقد قيل، ثم أُمر به فسُحب على وجهه ثم ألقي في النار

  But you did it so that he would be called generous; so it was said. Then an order was issued about him; he was dragged on his face and then thrown into the fire.

  وَلَكِنَّكَ — and but you. This stacks the connector wa- 'and' onto the strong contrast particle 'but/however', then attaches 'you' at the end. The contrast word emphatically overturns what the man just claimed, while its attached 'you' is the one whose motive is being exposed. So one word means 'and but-you', pivoting from his excuse to the real reason behind his giving.

  From: Intentions on Judgment Day →