JLPT N1EverydayRueful

たはいいがdid it, but there's a snag

You went ahead and did something, and that much went fine. Then came the snag you hadn't thought of.

新あたらしいパソコンを買かったはいいが、設せっ定ていが複ふく雑ざつでまだ使つかえていない。

Buying a new computer was all well and good, but the setup is complicated and I still haven't been able to use it.

How to form it

Verb (た-form) + はいいが

In conversation it is はいいけど, in careful writing はいいものの. With の, as in 買かったのはいいが, it means the same.

Before it: Something you went ahead and did: 買かった, 引ひき受うけた, 作つくった, 来きた, 始はじめた.
After it: The snag: you can't use it, it won't fit, you don't know what to do next.
Tone: Rueful, often a story against yourself. About someone else it is a mild complaint. いい is no praise; it only says that step went through.
Where you'll meet it: Everyday talk, blogs, essays, magazine articles.

In use

高こう級きゅうな鍋なべを買かったはいいけど、大おおきすぎて棚たなに入はいらない。

I bought an expensive pot, but it is too large to fit in the cupboard.

幹かん事じを引ひき受うけたはいいが、何なにから始はじめればいいのか分わからない。

I agreed to be the organizer, which was all very well, but I have no idea where to start.

予よ約やくを増ふやしたはいいものの、対たい応おうできるスタッフが不ふ足そくしていた。

They increased the number of bookings, but there were not enough staff to handle them.

Two things to know

What follows is a snag, not just a contrast

The second half is the trouble you ran into once it was done. For a plain "but", it is が or けど.

Not said: 兄あには東とう京きょうに引ひっ越こしたはいいが、私わたしは大おお阪さかに残のこった。

(My older brother moved to Tokyo, but I stayed in Osaka.)

Say 引ひっ越こしたが.

Before the act, it means something else

With the dictionary form and の, nothing has been done yet. You are saying: fine, go ahead, but mind this.

遊あそびに行いくのはいいけど、宿しゅく題だいは終おわったの？

It's fine to go out, but have you finished your homework?

Not done yet.

遊あそびに行いったはいいけど、雨あめで何なにもできなかった。

We went out, which was fine, but with the rain we couldn't do anything.

Done. Then the snag.

Close neighbours

もののN2

A plain written "although". It also follows a state, where たはいいが can't go.

頭あたまでは分わかっているものの、なかなか実じっ行こうできない。

I understand it in my head, but I can't seem to act on it.

のにN4

You are put out: the result is the opposite of what you had every right to expect.

せっかく早はやく来きたのに、店みせは閉しまっていた。

I made a point of coming early, and yet the shop was closed.

たところでN1

About something not done: even if you did it, it wouldn't help.

どうせ急いそいだところで、最さい終しゅう電でん車しゃには間まに合あわない。

Even if we hurry, we won't make the last train anyway.

Check yourself

1Which sentence sounds natural?

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which one fits?

（　　）のはいいけど、遅おそくならないでね。

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

A verb straight before は is rare. Here の has dropped out, and the short version has set as a phrase.

A close cousin for telling a story: 〜たまではよかったが, "all was well up to there".

駅えきに着ついたまではよかったが、財さい布ふを忘わすれたことに気きづいた。

All was well as far as getting to the station, but then I realized I had forgotten my wallet.

More sentences

張はり切きって料りょう理りを作つくったはいいけど、二人ふたりでは食たべきれない量りょうになってしまった。

I enthusiastically cooked a meal, but it ended up being more than two people could finish.

会かい議ぎの日にっ程ていを決きめたのはいいが、肝かん心じんの会かい場じょうを押おさえていなかった。

It was fine that we set the meeting date, but we had failed to reserve the all-important venue.

早はやめに会かい場じょうへ着ついたはいいが、受うけ付つけがまだ始はじまっていなかった。

I arrived at the venue early, but registration had not started yet.

思おもい切きって髪かみを短みじかく切きったはいいけど、どう整ととのえればいいのかわからない。

I took the plunge and cut my hair short, but I don't know how to style it.