Related words· 7 しかし and だが both mean 'but' at a similar formality level, but しかし is more common in formal writing while だが can sound slightly more assertive or blunt.
でも is the casual, everyday equivalent of だが , which is somewhat more formal and appears more often in writing.
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.
だが is a casual or literary 'but' common in narrative writing, whereas しかしながら is more formal and rarely used in casual conversation.
Show 3 more Show fewer だが is a blunt, somewhat literary 'but', while それなのに is softer in tone but carries more feeling of disappointment or disbelief.
だが is a blunt, somewhat literary 'but,' while とは言うものの is more measured and explicitly frames the contrast as a concession.
だが has a similar meaning but sounds more literary or stiff, whereas だけど is softer and more common in everyday talk.
Etymology A compound of the copula だ and the conjunctive particle が , literally 'it is that... but'. The exact historical development is straightforward.
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