JLPT N5EverydayConversational

でもbut (starting a new sentence)

でも starts a new sentence with "but". It is the everyday word in conversation. Inside one sentence, "but" is けど.

この本ほんは長ながいです。でも、とても面おも白しろいです。

This book is long. But it is very interesting.

疲つかれた。でも、楽たのしかった。

I'm tired. But it was fun.

How to form it

Sentence。でも、+ new sentence

It comes first in the new sentence, usually with a comma after it.

Adding the other side

You say one thing, then something that goes against it. It works the same in polite and casual speech.

天てん気きはいいです。でも、風かぜが強つよいです。

The weather is nice. But the wind is strong.

今日きょうは月げつ曜よう日びです。でも、学がっ校こうは休やすみです。

Today is Monday. But school is closed.

その部屋へやは小ちいさい。でも、明あかるくてきれいだ。

That room is small. But it is bright and clean.

Not in the middle of a sentence

English "but" can join two halves of one sentence. でも can't: it only starts a new one.

家や賃ちんは安やすいよ。でも、駅えきから遠とおいよ。

The rent is low. But it is far from the station.

Two sentences. でも starts the second.

家や賃ちんは安やすいけど、駅えきから遠とおい。

The rent is low, but it is far from the station.

One sentence. けど ends the first half.

Not said: 家や賃ちんは安やすいでも、駅えきから遠とおい。

(The rent is low, but it is far from the station.)

Answering someone

At the start of a reply, でも pushes back on what was just said. Between friends or colleagues that is ordinary.

A

駅えきまで歩あるきましょう。

Let's walk to the station.

B

でも、雨あめが降ふっていますよ。

But it's raining.

To a teacher or a boss it can sound like making excuses. As the first word of a reply to an invitation it is blunt, whoever asked. Agreeing with something first takes the edge off.

A

明日あした、一いっ緒しょに映えい画がを見みませんか。

Would you like to see a movie together tomorrow?

B

いいですね。でも、明日あしたは仕し事ごとがあるんです。

That sounds nice. But I have work tomorrow.

Close neighbours

けど・がN5

The same "but", inside one sentence. They can also lead gently into a request, which でも can't.

この部屋へやは狭せまいけど、明あかるいです。

This room is small, but it is bright.

しかしN5

"However". For essays, reports, news and speeches, where でも sounds too chatty.

家や賃ちんは安やすいです。しかし、駅えきから遠とおいです。

The rent is low. However, it is far from the station.

Noun + でもN4

In an invitation or a suggestion, でも after a noun isn't "but". It is "or something", a light way to offer one thing among others.

お茶ちゃでも飲のみませんか。

Would you like to have some tea or something?

ても・でもN4

After a noun, or as the end of a て-form like 読よんでも, and followed by something that holds anyway. It means "even" or "even if".

雨あめでも行いきます。

I'll go even if it rains.

Check yourself

1Which one is right?

Choose an answer to see why.

2A colleague asks you out to dinner tonight and you can't go. Which reply is friendlier?

Choose an answer to see why.

3What does this mean?

コーヒーでも飲のみませんか。

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

Putting a fact right

でも doesn't say the other person is wrong. It adds something that points the other way. When someone simply has a fact wrong, the reply starts with いいえ.

A

会かい議ぎは三さん時じからですね。

The meeting starts at three, right?

B

いいえ、二に時じからですよ。

No, it starts at two.

More sentences

この店みせは安やすいです。でも、今日きょうは休やすみです。

This store is inexpensive. But it is closed today.

田た中なかさんは来きません。でも、山やま田ださんは来きます。

Mr. Tanaka is not coming. But Ms. Yamada is.

今いまから出でれば間まに合あうよ。でも、切きっ符ぷはもう買かったの？

We'll make it if we leave now. But have you bought the tickets yet?

Compared with similar forms

Ways to say "but"