LEARN + JAPANESE / Note 108 JLPT N5
But (けれども)
けれども attaches to the plain form and connects two clauses in contrast, “but.” It works exactly like the softening が you’ve already met, just a notch more formal, and often gets shortened to けど in casual speech.
I drank coffee, but I'm still sleepy.
I'm not good at golf, but I play often.
In Real Life
が, けれども, and けど all do the same job at different registers, けれども reads as the most formal, suited to writing or careful speech, while けど is what you’ll hear constantly in casual conversation.
Sensei, it's about today's homework, would now be alright?
Um, I heard Kanazawa is a nice place, is that true?
In Real Life
んですけど, built on the explanatory ん you already know, doesn’t always contrast anything, it just softens the opening of a request or a question, easing into the topic rather than announcing it bluntly.
Vocabulary
| Japanese | English |
|---|---|
| sleepy | |
| golf | |
| to ask a question | |
| to study abroad | |
| problem, question | |
| summer vacation | |
| temple | |
| ninja | |
| name | |
| place | |
| fun, enjoyable | |
| truth, really | |
| opposite, objection | |
| contradiction | |
| on the other hand | |
| certainly, indeed | |
| written language | |
| spoken language | |
| polite | |
| casual |