しかし

し

か

し

Common wordJLPTN4Freq.FrequencyTop 200

Meanings

1

conjunction

however; but

usually written using kana alone

Common conjunction used to introduce a contrast or reservation. Often appears at the beginning of a sentence.

彼かれは頭あたまがいい。しかし、時とき々どきミスをする。
He is smart. However, he sometimes makes mistakes.

この店みせは安やすい。しかし、味あじは普ふ通つうだ。

This restaurant is cheap. But the taste is just average.

Written forms

しかしUsage99%
Standard kana spelling; the word is usually written in kana.
併しかしUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; learners should use the kana spelling.
然しかしUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rare kanji form; learners should use the kana spelling.
しっかしUsage<1%
search-only kana form
シカシUsage0%

Kanji

然sort of thing, so, if so
併join, get together, unite

Similar words

でも
でも is more casual and conversational than しかし. しかし is often used in writing or formal speech.
だが
だが is similar to しかし but can sound slightly more literary or emphatic.

Etymology

Derived from the classical Japanese adverb しかり (thus, so) with the particle し, originally meaning 'and so' or 'thus'. The modern contrastive sense developed from this connective use.