だけど

conjunction

but; however

informalgrammatical

1. but; however

A casual conjunction used to introduce a contrasting statement or add reservation.

行(い)きたい。だけど、時間(じかん)がない。

I want to go. But I don't have time.

高(たか)い。だけど、品質(ひんしつ)はいい。

It's expensive. However, the quality is good.

だけど、それでいいの？

But is that okay?

疲(つか)れた。だけど、まだ終(お)わってない。

I'm tired. But it's not over yet.

好(す)きだ。だけど、言(い)えない。

I like them. But I can't say it.

A casual sentence-initial 'but', made of the copula だ + けど. Between clauses, the particle けど attaches straight to a verb or i-adjective (高(たか)いけど), while だけど follows a noun or na-adjective (静(しず)かだけど).

Register

でも: the most common spoken 'but'
だけど, だけれど, だけれども: casual to neutral, in rising formality
だが, しかし: written or formal

Watch out

高(たか)いだけど is wrong: after an i-adjective or verb, use けど alone. Starting a sentence with a bare けど is very casual.

Related Words

Synonym: でも (but (also casual))

Synonym: だけれども (slightly more formal variant)

Related: だが (however (formal))

Related: しかし (however (formal/neutral))

Related: けど (but (clause-final))

Compare: ところが (however)

Compare: だけれど (but)

basic

Added 2026.1.13 12:14 · Revised 2026.9.29 6:04

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