pas, mais

not, but

→ pas

phrase Uncommon #8,873

not, but Used to contrast a negative statement with a contrasting clause. In French, the negation and contrast can appear in the same sentence as separate elements.

FR: Certains ne nous aiment pas, mais la plupart, si.

EN: Some people don't like us, but most do.

Neville, ne te vexe pas, mais je me moque des plantes.

Neville, don’t take it personally, but I don’t care about plants.

— Harry Potter et la Coupe de feu (2005)

Ça se voit pas, mais je crois qu'elle est pas normale.

You can't tell, but I think she's not normal.

— Secret Sunshine (2007)

Tu comprends pas, mais je suis terrifiée.

You don't understand, but I'm terrified.

— La La Land (2016)

Cette histoire ne me concerne pas, mais ils savent que vous êtes là.

This story doesn't concern me, but they know you're there.

— Mulholland Drive (2001)

On en parlerait pas, mais on y penserait !

We wouldn't talk about it, but we'd think about it!

— Jean de Florette (1986)

Elle ne le dit pas, mais elle le pense.

She doesn't say it, but she thinks it.

— Article 15 (2019)

Je crois pas, mais je veux en être sûr.

I don't think so, but I want to be sure.

On dirait pas, mais c'est agréable.

It may not look it, but it’s nice.

— Pinocchio (2019)

Vous me croyez pas, mais si on sort d'ici, vous finirez par me croire.

You don’t believe me, but once we get out of here, you’ll eventually believe me.

— Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die (2026)

Moi pas, mais lui.

Not me, but him.

— Les Diaboliques (1955)

Ça ne paraît pas, mais c'est très efficace.

It may not look like it, but it's very effective.

— Akira (1988)

Non pas qu'il ne le pourrait pas, mais c'est un homme trop paresseux.

Not that he couldn't, but he's far too lazy a man.

Naomi ne fatigue pas, mais Geeta tient le coup.

Naomi isn't tiring, but Geeta is holding her own.

— Dangal (2016)

Je ne te déteste pas, mais ne me bloque pas.

I don't hate you, but don't block me.

— Five Nights at Freddy's 2 (2025)

On ne se ressemble pas, mais ma mère le traite comme son fils.

We don't look alike, but my mother treats him like her son.

— Le Conformiste (1971)

Je sais que vous ne le croirez pas, mais je jure que c'est vrai.

I know you won’t believe me, but I swear it’s true.

Je ne dis pas que je ne t'enseignerai pas, mais je dois y réfléchir aussi.

I'm not saying I won't teach you, but I need to think about it too.

— Le Maître d'armes (2006)

Je le vois pas, mais je l'entends.

I can’t see it, but I can hear it.

— The Rip (2026)

Le mec me plaisait pas, mais je voulais le croire.

I didn't like the guy, but I wanted to believe him.

— Reservoir Dogs (1992)

Je vois pas, mais si tu le dis.

I don't see it, but if you say so.

— Viens chez moi, j'habite chez une copine (1981)

Je décroche pas, mais je dois sortir.

I'm not answering the phone, but I have to go out.

— Il était Temps (2013)

Je ne vous force pas, mais vous devriez vous inscrire.

I'm not forcing you, but you should register.

— À bout de course (1988)

J'en fais pas, mais c'est faux.

I don't do it, but that's not true.

— La Vie d'Adèle - Chapitres 1 et 2 (2013)

Tom ne s'en soucie pas, mais Mary oui.

Tom doesn't care, but Mary does.

Ne vous méprenez pas, mais je ne veux plus jamais vous revoir.

Don't get me wrong, but I never want to see you again.

— Nuremberg (2025)

Le petit bonhomme, on dirait pas, mais il a de l'imagination.

You wouldn't think it, but that little guy has quite an imagination.

— Mother (2009)

Tu n'y crois peut-être pas, mais malgré tout c'est un fait.

You may not believe it, but it’s a fact nonetheless.

Moi, je ne le ferais pas, mais on est censé adoré ça.

I wouldn't do it myself, but we're supposed to love it.

— À bout de course (1988)

Je veux pas, mais lui, si.

I don't want to, but he does.

— Victoria (2015)

Certains ne nous aiment pas, mais la plupart, si.

Some people don't like us, but most do.

— Do the Right Thing (1989)

Je connais pas, mais j'aimerais essayer.

I don't know it, but I'd like to try.

— Avengers (2012)

Vous ne la voyez pas, mais moi, oui.

You don't see it, but I do.

Tu le connais pas, mais tu l'as vu.

You don't know him, but you've seen him.

— Mommy (2014)

Ça paie pas, mais t'auras les disques en service de presse.

It doesn’t pay, but you’ll get the records as review copies.

— Presque Célèbre (2000)

Il a dit qu'il n'entrerait pas, mais il est finalement entré.

He said he wouldn’t go in, but he eventually did.

Je savais qu'il ne l'achèterait pas, mais il me fallait sa signature.

I knew he wouldn’t buy it, but I needed his signature.

— Assurance sur la mort (1944)

Je le connais pas, mais il passe bien.

I don't know him, but he's doing well.

Je ne nie pas, mais je peux vous aider, Teddy !

I don't deny it, but I can help you, Teddy!

— Bugonia (2025)

Tu ne me comprends pas, mais tu es mon amie.

You don't understand me, but you are my friend.

— The World (2004)

Ça se fait pas, mais je fais ce que je veux.

It's not right, but I do whatever I want.

— La Main de Dieu (2021)

Ou pas, mais… c'est pas génial.

Or not, but… it’s not great.

— Wake Up Dead Man : Une histoire à couteaux tirés (2025)

Peut-être pas, mais je ne suis pas encore à New York.

Maybe not, but I'm not in New York yet.

— À bout de course (1988)

Je ne te vois pas, mais je sais que tu es là.

I can't see you, but I know you're there.

— Les Ailes du désir (1987)

Tu me crois pas, mais je suis sincère.

You don't believe me, but I'm sincere.

— Anaconda (2025)

Vous le connaissez pas, mais c'est une pointure.

You don't know him, but he's a big name.

Val, on ne dirait peut être pas, mais cette maison est encore à moi.

Val, you might not think it, but this house is still mine.

— Une seconde mère (2015)