Ways to say "but"
けど is the everyday "but" inside one sentence, and でも is the everyday "but" that starts a new one. Those two are the ones to start with. In writing, が and しかし do those jobs, and polite conversation uses が too. Three more words start a new sentence and say more than "but": "even so", "but then" and "and yet".
| Form | What it says | Where |
|---|---|---|
| けど | "But", inside one sentence | Everyday conversation |
| が, けれど, けれども | "But" inside one sentence, said more carefully | Polite conversation and writing |
| でも | "But", starting a new sentence | Everyday conversation |
| しかし | "However", starting a new sentence | Writing and speeches |
| それでも | "Even so": what was just said changes nothing | Conversation and writing |
| ところが | "But then": not what was expected | Stories, and conversation about how things turned out |
| それなのに | "And yet": a complaint, or plain surprise | Conversation and writing |
けど and が: "but" inside one sentence
Full pageが・
けど and が end the first half of a sentence, where English "but" starts the second. けど is the relaxed one, and けれど and けれども are the same word said more carefully. In conversation が follows です or ます; after a plain form (安いが) it is mostly found in writing.
This room is small, but it is bright.
It is already nine, but the store is still open.
I like dogs, but my younger sister likes cats.
でも and しかし: "but" at the start of a new sentence
でも starts a new sentence with "but". It is the everyday word in conversation, polite or casual. しかし is "however": it does the same job in essays, reports, news and speeches.
I'm tired. But it was fun.
This medicine works well. However, it can make you sleepy.
Sounds odd: この
This place is good, isn't it? However, it is a little expensive.
With a friend しかし sounds like a speech. People say でも、ちょっと高いね.
In conversation だけど starts a new sentence just as でも does. In polite speech it is ですが, and in plain-style writing だが.
I want to go. But I have no money.
A reply that starts with でも
At the start of a reply, でも pushes back on what was just said. In answer to an invitation it is blunt, and agreeing first softens it.
Would you like to see a movie together tomorrow?
That sounds nice. But I have work tomorrow.
けど, でも or しかし?
Here are the same two facts, said three ways.
The rent is low, but it is far from the station.
One sentence, to a friend.
The rent is low. But it is far from the station.
Two sentences, to a friend.
The rent is low. However, it is far from the station.
Two sentences, in writing or in a presentation.
Where it goes wrong
English "but" can join two halves of one sentence. でも and しかし only start a new one.
Not said: 家賃は
(The rent is low, but it is far from the station.)
Inside one sentence it is 安いけど.
Before けど and が, a noun or a な-adjective needs だ or です.
Not said: 今日は
(It's Sunday today, but I have work.)
It is 日曜日だけど.
けど and が that are not "but"
Full pageが・
けど and が are often not "but" at all. You say sorry, or explain your situation, and けど or が leads into the question or the request.
Sorry, one more time, please.
んですがN4
The everyday polite way to open a request: your situation first, then が.
I have a favor to ask. Is now a good time?
People also stop at けど or が and leave the rest unsaid.
Would you like to go out for dinner tonight?
I have an early morning tomorrow, though…
B is saying no, gently, without saying it.
それでも: even so
Full pageそれでもN4
それでも starts a new sentence with "even so". What was just said is true, and you would expect it to stop someone or to change how things turn out. It doesn't.
I hear it'll be very crowded tomorrow.
Even so, I'd like to go and see.
ところが: but then
Full pageところがN3
ところが is "but then": it starts the sentence that says what really happened, when something else was expected. What was expected often ends in と思っていた or はずだった, "was supposed to". What happened can be good news or bad.
The exam was difficult, and I thought I had no chance of passing. But when I saw the results, I had scored higher than expected.
Your new computer must be fast.
You'd think so, but it's slower than my old one.
それなのに: and yet
Full pageそれなのにN2
それなのに is "and yet": after what was just said, things should have gone differently. Mostly it is a complaint that this isn't fair, and sometimes it is plain surprise.
How's the new computer?
It cost a lot. And yet it's already acting up.
I stood in line for three whole hours. And yet they tell me it's sold out.
Between friends それなのに is often shortened to なのに.
それでも, ところが or それなのに?
All three can follow the same first sentence.
There was heavy snow outside. Even so, the shop stayed open.
The snow was a reason to close, and the shop carried on.
There was heavy snow outside. But as it turned out, the shop was packed with customers.
You would expect an empty shop.
There was heavy snow outside. And yet, the shop had not cleared the snow from its entrance.
They should have cleared it. A complaint.
None of the three is a plain "but". For two facts that simply differ, it is でも or しかし.
Sounds odd: 家賃は
The rent is low. Even so, it is far from the station.
Low rent is no reason to expect the station to be near.
ても and のに: inside one sentence
ても・でもN4
"Even if", "even though": the same idea as それでも. After a noun it is でも (雨でも), which is not the でも that starts a sentence.
Even if it rains, I'll go.
のにN4
"Even though", with surprise or a complaint: the same feeling as それなのに.
Even though I took medicine, my head still hurts.
Other kinds of "but"
だってN3Spoken, casual
At the start of a reply: "but", in your own defense, to family or friends.
But I'm still eating dinner.
ただしN2Rules and notices
"However", adding a condition or an exception.
The library is open every day. However, it is closed over the New Year holidays.
ただN2ただ: conversation
"It's just that…": a softer ただし.
I'd like to go too. It's just that I have work that day.