けど

also: けども

け

ど

Meanings

1

Casual conjunction/particle used to connect contrasting statements or to soften a statement. Often used at the end of a sentence to imply hesitation or to leave a thought unfinished.

行い

き

たい

けど

、

時じ

間かん

が

ない

。

I want to go, but I don't have time.

ちょっとお願ねがいがあるんだけど…

I have a small favor to ask, but…

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉んですけどsoftens a statement or leaves it unfinished to imply a request or hesitation
すみません、道みちに迷まよったんですけど。
Excuse me, I'm lost, so... (could you help me?)
〈事こと〉けど、〈事こと〉connects two clauses to show a casual contrast between them
行いきたいけど、時じ間かんがない。
I want to go, but I don't have time.

Grammar

が・けど・けれど・けれどもBut or although (clause contrast)N5

Related words· 6

がN5
が is the formal, written-register conjunction for 'but', while けど is its casual, spoken-language counterpart.
でもN5
でも starts a new sentence to mean 'but/however', whereas けど joins within or at the end of a sentence to soften or contrast a statement.
けれどN4
けれども is the polite/neutral form used in formal speech and writing, while けど is the casual equivalent used in everyday conversation.
だけどN3
けど is an even more casual, clipped form than だけど, which is a touch more emphatic and explicit in casual speech.

Show 2 more

ですが
けど is a casual, conversational way to say 'but,' while ですが keeps the sentence polite.
だけれども
けど is an even more casual and frequent contraction than だけれども, often used mid-sentence in conversation.

Politeness

けれどpolite 丁寧語N4
けれども is the full, more formal form of the conjunction, while けど is the contracted, casual version used in everyday speech.

Don't confuse with

のに
のに expresses contrast with a sense of surprise, complaint, or unmet expectation, while けど is a neutral, everyday word for 'but'.

Etymology

Contracted from けれども, which itself derives from classical Japanese けれど.