〜けど／〜けれども／〜が (contrast)
But ~ / Although ~
けど, けれども and が join two sentences with a contrast, meaning "but" or "although". They are also used to soften a question or request, or to trail off politely.
How to make it
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| Plain or polite sentence + けど／けれども | 高い → 高いけど、高いですけど |
| Noun / な-adjective + だけど／ですけど | 雨 → 雨だけど、雨ですけど |
| Polite sentence + が (more formal) | 高いです → 高いですが |
Meaning and examples
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1. Contrast: but
Joins two ideas that go against each other: the first part is true, but the second part is surprising or different.
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このレストランは高いけど、おいしいです。
このレストランはたかいけど、おいしいです。
kono resutoran wa takai kedo, oishii desu.
This restaurant is expensive, but the food is good.
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日本語はむずかしいですが、おもしろいです。
にほんごはむずかしいですが、おもしろいです。
nihongo wa muzukashii desu ga, omoshiroi desu.
Japanese is difficult, but it's interesting.
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雨だけど、出かけます。
あめだけど、でかけます。
ame da kedo, dekakemasu.
It's raining, but I'm going out.
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きのうは休みでしたけれども、会社へ行きました。
きのうはやすみでしたけれども、かいしゃへいきました。
kinou wa yasumi deshita keredomo, kaisha e ikimashita.
Yesterday was my day off, but I went to the office.
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2. Soft opening
Before a question or request, けど or が gives background and makes it sound less direct, as in すみませんが、...
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すみませんが、駅はどこですか。
すみませんが、えきはどこですか。
sumimasen ga, eki wa doko desu ka.
Excuse me, where is the station?
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来週のパーティーですけど、何時からですか。
らいしゅうのパーティーですけど、なんじからですか。
raishuu no paatii desu kedo, nanji kara desu ka.
About next week's party, what time does it start?
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3. Trailing off
Ending a sentence with けど… leaves the rest unsaid, which is a polite way to hint at a problem or say no softly.
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行きたいですけど…。
いきたいですけど…。
ikitai desu kedo….
I'd like to go, but...
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今日はちょっといそがしいんですけど…。
きょうはちょっといそがしいんですけど…。
kyou wa chotto isogashii n desu kedo….
I'm a bit busy today, I'm afraid...
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Nuance
が is the most formal and common in writing, けれども is polite, and けど is the everyday spoken form. Nouns and な-adjectives need だ or です before けど, but い-adjectives never take だ. Don't confuse this が, which comes after a whole sentence, with the subject particle が.
Compared with
でも and しかし start a new sentence (高いです。でも、おいしいです); けど and が join two parts into one sentence.
から gives a reason ("so"), while けど gives a contrast ("but"). The two halves of a から sentence agree; the two halves of a けど sentence clash.
Common mistakes
Wrong雨けど、出かけます。
Right雨だけど、出かけます。
A noun needs だ (or です) before けど.
Wrong高いだけど、買います。
Right高いけど、買います。
い-adjectives connect to けど directly, with no だ.
Practice
JLPT style: choose the best answer for （ ）.
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1「この本は高い（ ）、おもしろいです。」
Expensive and interesting are a contrast, so けど fits. から and ので give a reason, which makes no sense here, and と does not join these ideas.
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2「今日は休み（ ）けど、学校へ行きます。」
A noun needs だ before けど: 休みだけど. な, の and で cannot connect to けど.
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3「（ ）が、ちょっといいですか。」
すみませんが is a set soft opening before a request. どうぞ, ください and ありがとう are not used this way.
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4「日本語はむずかしいです（ ）、たのしいです。」
Difficult and fun are a contrast, so が ("but") is right. から and ので give a reason, and を cannot join sentences.
FAQ
What is the difference between けど, けれども and が?
They all mean "but". けど is casual and spoken, けれども is a little more polite, and が is the most formal and common in writing.
What is the difference between けど and でも?
けど joins two ideas in one sentence. でも starts a new sentence: 高いです。でも、おいしいです.
Can a sentence end with けど?
Yes. Ending with けど… leaves something unsaid, which softens a refusal or a request. It is very common in polite conversation.
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