also: けれども
Polite or slightly formal contrastive conjunction/particle. Connects clauses with a sense of 'but', 'however', or 'although'. Often used to soften statements or introduce a contrasting point. In casual speech, けど is more common.
This dish is delicious, but it's a little expensive, isn't it?
Although he is young, he is very reliable.
I'm a little busy right now, but... (implying an unstated request)
He's young, but he's very dependable.
けれども is a softer, more conversational way to express contrast, while しかしながら carries a formal, emphatic tone suited to speeches or written prose.
けれども is a mild, polite 'but' that simply contrasts two statements, while ところが adds a sense of surprise or reversal of expectation.
けれども is a neutral, general-purpose 'but/although' usable in any register, while にもかかわらず sounds more formal and stresses an unexpected contrast.
けれども often connects clauses within a sentence more smoothly, while だが is more typically used to start a new sentence with a sharper contrast.
けれども is a softer, more casual connector for 'but,' whereas とは言うものの carries a stronger sense of conceding a prior statement before qualifying it.