STRUCTURE
文頭：「だけど、～」
話しことば
HOW TO USE IT
- だけど stands at the start of a sentence and links it to the previous one with a contrast. It means "but".
- It is used in casual speech: to open a reply that differs from the other person, or to continue one's own words.
- The following sentence can be the speaker's opinion or wish, or a fact.
- In writing or formal speech, しかし or ですが is usually used instead of だけど.
WATCH OUT
×「この店、安いね。」「ところが、私は高いと思うよ。」
○「この店、安いね。」「だけど、私は高いと思うよ。」
ところが is not used to answer someone's opinion with your own. Use だけど instead.
×雨が降っている。ところが、出かけたい。
○雨が降っている。だけど、出かけたい。
ところが is usually followed by an unexpected actual result, not the speaker's wish.
Examples
「あの映画、人気があるね。」「だけど、私はあまり好きじゃないな。」
「あのえいが、にんきがあるね。」「だけど、わたしはあまりすきじゃないな。」
"That movie is popular, isn't it." "But I don't really like it."
駅から近くて便利な部屋だ。だけど、家賃がちょっと高い。
えきからちかくてべんりなへやだ。だけど、やちんがちょっとたかい。
The room is close to the station and convenient. But the rent is a bit high.
日本語の勉強は楽しい。だけど、漢字はまだ難しいと思う。
にほんごのべんきょうはたのしい。だけど、かんじはまだむずかしいとおもう。
Studying Japanese is fun. But I think kanji is still hard.
Often confused with
How each pair differs, with the exam trap in context, is in the Toey lesson.
Practise だけど with drills and review
Start free with N5. N3 drills, audio and review are in JLPT Pro.
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