だって

conjunction, particle

but, because, even

informalcolloquialgrammatical

1. but, because

Used at the beginning of a sentence to offer a reason or excuse, often with a slightly defensive or childish nuance.

But I didn't know!

But it can't be helped, can it?

But I was tired!

But it's true!

But I didn't hear you!

But that's what I was told!

2. even, also

Attached after a noun to mean 'even' or 'also,' similar to でも.

Even a child can do it.

Anyone can make mistakes.

I'll eat anything.

Even he didn't understand.

I'm always on your side.

Sentence-initial だって: gives a reason or excuse in reply to a question or criticism, often closing with 〜んだもん or 〜んだから: だって、知(し)らなかったんだもん. It sounds defensive or childish; avoid it with superiors.
Noun + だって: "even" or "also," a casual でも: 子供(こども)だってできる. After question words it means "any-": 誰(だれ)だって (anyone), 何(なに)だって (anything), いつだって (always).
At the end of a sentence, だって (だ + って) is also a casual quotation marker, "I hear" or "they say": 明日(あした)は休(やす)みだって (I hear tomorrow's a day off).

でも: the neutral "but" at the start of a sentence and the standard "even" after nouns; だって is the casual counterpart in both uses.
なぜなら: the formal "because" of writing and speeches; だって belongs to conversation.

Casual conversation only.

Related Words

Related: でも (but, even)

Related: だけど (but (casual))

basic

Added 2026.1.12 23:43 · Revised 2026.9.28 2:11

03000/03423_datte