Essential Conjunctions: But (が)

We can form a “but” in Japanese by appending the が particle to the end of the clause. Let’s start with some example sentences:

旅行りょこうに行いきたいですが、休やすみが取とれません。

I want to go on holiday but I can’t take time off.

普段ふだんは自炊じすいしますが、今日きょうは外食がいしょくしたいです。

Normally I cook myself, but today I want to eat out.

試験しけんの勉強べんきょうが大変たいへんですが、頑張がんばってください。

It’s tough studying for exams, but please do your best.

部屋へやは広ひろくないですが、家賃やちんが高たかいです。

My room is not big, but the rent is expensive.

Grammatically speaking, が can also be used with the standard form of verbs but you typically only see this in formal writing (e.g. newspapers) or speeches. The below was a headline from Newsweek Japan, for example.

イラン人が苦くるしむ水不足みずぶそくだが、中東ちゅうとうの対立解消たいりつかいしょうへのチャンスにできる

Iranians suffering from water shortages, but it could be a chance to resolve the conflict in the Middle East.

In everyday conversation, the particle けど is typically used instead of が.

お酒さけが飲のめるけど、普段ふだんはあまり飲のまない。

I can drink alcohol but don’t do so that often.

Note: あまり is used with the negative to mean “not so much” or “not too often” etc.

あまり勉強べんきょうしなかったけど、なんとなく試験しけんに合格ごうかくしたよ。

I didn’t really study, but somehow I managed to pass.

お店みせの服ふくは安やすいけど、質しつが良よくない。

The store’s clothes are cheap, but the quality isn’t good.

Note that the topic particle is used in the first clause in the last example. You may think we need to use が because we are connecting the noun (clothing) with the adjective “cheap” but then the topic of the sentence would be ambiguous (and would have readers wondering, “The quality of what is good?”).

その番組ばんぐみが面白おもしろいけど、仕事しごとが忙いそがしくて見みる時間じかんがない。

That TV programme is funny, but I’m busy with work and don’t have time to watch it.

It is important to remember that when appending けど to a noun or na-adjective in the standard/casual form, we must add the copula だ before it.

新幹線しんかんせんは便利べんりだけど、お金かねがかかる。

The bullet train is convenient, but it’s expensive.

納豆なっとうは嫌きらいじゃないけど、めったに食たべない。

I don’t hate natto, but very rarely eat it.

Note: めったに is used with the negative to express that you don’t do something very often. It has more emphasis than あまり.

けど can also be used in polite conversation, but you would not see it in written text (unless on maybe someone’s personal blog).

あの人ひとは会計士かいけいしですけど、数学すうがくが得意とくいではありません。

That person is an accountant, but he’s not good at maths.

In fact there are three other variations of けど: けれど, けども, and けれども. The nuance is broadly the same for all four and grammatical usage is identical. けど is by far the most commonly used.

成績せいせきが悪わるくないけれど、もう少すこし頑張がんばれる。

My grades aren’t bad, but I could try a little harder.

成績せいせきが悪わるくないけども、もう少すこし頑張がんばれる。

My grades aren’t bad, but I could try a little harder.

成績せいせきが悪わるくないけれども、もう少すこし頑張がんばれる。

My grades aren’t bad, but I could try a little harder.

Using が and けど for Context

It is crucial to understand that Japanese speakers do not only use が and けど to express a direct contrast (“but”). They are frequently used simply to introduce a topic, provide background context, or soften the delivery of a sentence. In these cases, it is often better to translate them as “and”, “so”, or to leave them completely untranslated.

すみませんが、写真しゃしんを撮とってくれませんか。

Excuse me, [but] could you take a picture for me?

明日あした、暇ひまだけど、遊あそばない？

I am free tomorrow, [so] do you want to hang out?

In spoken Japanese, you will also frequently hear sentences end entirely on けど or が. Trailing off like this is a polite way to let a statement hang in the air, allowing the listener to step in and respond without you having to make a direct demand.

予約よやくした山田やまだですけど…

I’m Yamada, I made a reservation… (Implying: “…so could you check me in?”)