لَكِن but in Arabic

وكل من هَذِه الْأَقْسَام يُسمى حرفا لَكِن خَاصَّة الثَّالِث أَنه حرف جَاءَ لِمَعْنى لَيْسَ باسم

And each of these categories is called a particle, but the distinguishing feature of the third is that it is a particle that conveys a meaning and is not a noun.

لَكِنَّ but

'but, however' — like 'inna', it grabs the following noun into the accusative as its subject. It turns to an exception.

From Small Deeds, Great Reward

لكن على نَفسه قوي قلبه بِبِشَارَة ﴿لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعنا﴾

But in himself, his heart was strengthened by the glad tidings, 'Do not grieve; indeed, Allah is with us.'

لَكِنْ but

The light 'but / yet' (lakin without the heavy doubling), a contrast-word that, unlike its heavier twin, does not change the case of what follows. It pivots from Abu Bakr's grief to his strengthened heart.

From The Night of the Migration

وَلَكِن أَيْن الْفِرَار

But where is the escape?

وَلَكِنْ but rather

'And' plus the light 'but / yet' (lakin without the heavy doubling), which does not change the case of what follows. It pivots: but there is no escape.

From The Prophet's Refuge in the Cave

لكن له أن ينقل التفسير عن المعتمدين من أهله

However, they may transmit interpretation from reliable authorities among its people.

لَكِنَّ However

A strong 'but / however' that turns the ruling: forbidden to interpret, yet... It introduces the allowance that follows, setting the concession against the ban just stated.

From How Scholars Read Scripture

ولكن انظر إلى الأفق، فنظرت فإذا سواد عظيم،

But look to the horizon, and I looked there and saw a vast multitude.

وَلَكِنِ but rather

This is 'and' plus the lighter 'but / however'. Unlike its heavier cousin that forces the accusative, this short form simply marks a contrast without bending the next word's ending. It pivots from the correction to a fresh command.

From Those Who Enter Without Account

فقال رسول الله والذي نفسي بيده لو تدومون على ما تكونون عندي وفي الذكر لصافحتكم الملائكة على فرشكم وفي طرقكم، ولكن يا حنظلة ساعة وساعة ثلاث مرات،

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: 'By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, if you remained in the state that you are with me and in remembrance, the angels would shake hands with you in your beds and on your paths. But, O Hanzala, a time and a time.' He repeated this three times.

وَلَكِنَّ but rather

This is 'and' plus the contrast-particle 'but' (of the 'inna' family), which grips the noun after it in the accusative. It pivots from the ideal to the reality: BUT, Hanzala, life alternates. The vocative that follows is its accusative-bound focus.

From Devotion and Daily Life

ولكن هو لم يجره ولم تجر به العادة ولا هو مما تكلم الناس فيه نفيًا أو إثباتًا

But it has not occurred, nor is it customary, and it is not something people have discussed, either in negation or affirmation.

وَلَكِنَّهُ but it

This couples 'and' with the contrast particle lakinna ('but') plus an attached 'it'. Lakinna sets the coming clause against the previous concession and, like the emphatic inna, supplies its subject as the attached pronoun. So 'but it...' is built into one word.

From Ten Proofs of Resurrection