Posted inN3 Grammar

Mastering だけど: The Casual “But” for JLPT N3 Learners

Posted inN3 Grammar
Japanese Grammar Template
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

“But”, “however”, “although”

🎯 Primary Function

To connect two clauses, expressing a contrast, exception, or adding a condition/soft reason.

📋 Grammar Structure

Plain form of verb, i-adjective, na-adjective, or noun + だけど Verb/I-adjective: Plain form + だけど Na-adjective: (だ)だけど or なだけど (だ is often omitted in casual speech) Noun: (だ)だけど (だ is often omitted in casual speech) *Note: だ is often dropped before だけど, especially in very casual speech.

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Rarely used. Considered too casual.

😊 Informal Situations

Very commonly used among friends, family, and close colleagues.

✍️ Written Language

Mostly seen in casual writing like emails to friends, social media, or dialogue in novels/manga.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Extremely common and natural.

💡 Common Applications

Expressing Contrast/Opposite Ideas
Used to connect two sentences or clauses where the second clause presents information that contrasts with the first.
Example: このケーキは美味しいだけど、ちょっと高いね。 (Kono keeki wa oishii dakedo, chotto takai ne.) – This cake is delicious, but it’s a little expensive.
Adding an Exception or Condition
Used to introduce a condition or an exception to the preceding statement.
Example: 行きたいだけど、時間がありません。(Ikitai dakedo, jikan ga arimasen.) – I want to go, but I don’t have time.
Softening a Statement or Introducing a Topic
Can be used to soften a refusal or request, or to gently introduce a new topic or question.
Example: すみません、ちょっと聞きたいことがあるだけど… (Sumimasen, chotto kikitai koto ga aru dakedo…) – Excuse me, but I have something I’d like to ask… (Soft introduction to a question)
📊
Frequency
Very high in casual spoken Japanese.
🎚️
Difficulty
Relatively easy to understand the basic meaning, but mastering its nuances regarding politeness and context requires practice.
Example Sentences
今日の天気は晴れだけど、風が強いですね。
Today’s weather is sunny, but the wind is strong.
この本は面白いだけど、少し難しいです。
This book is interesting, but it’s a little difficult.
週末は暇だだけど、特に予定がないんだ。
I’m free this weekend, but I don’t have any specific plans.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Casual Conjunction
だけど is significantly more casual than けれども (keredomo) and ですが/ますが (desu ga/masu ga) or しかし (shikashi). Avoid using it in formal situations or with superiors.
Example: 友達：「昨日パーティー行った？」自分：「行きたかったんだけど、熱が出ちゃって…」 (Friend: “Did you go to the party yesterday?” Self: “I wanted to go, but I got a fever…”) – Appropriate casual use.
Connects to Plain Form
Generally connects to the plain form of the preceding word. For na-adjectives and nouns, the linking だ is often omitted in casual speech before だけど.
Example: 静かだだけど -> 静かだけど (Shizuka da dakedo -> Shizuka dakedo – Although it’s quiet…)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using だけど in formal situations.
✅ Use けれども, ですが, ますが, or しかし instead.
だけど sounds too informal and potentially rude when speaking with superiors, clients, or in formal presentations.
❌ Connecting directly to the polite form (ます/です).
✅ Connect to the plain form.
だけど follows the plain form. For polite speech, you would typically use a different conjunction like けれども or ですが.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Casual/Informal
Social Situations: Used among equals, friends, family, or when speaking casually to someone of lower status.
Regional Variations: Variations like 〜やけど (Kansai dialect) exist, but だけど is widely understood across Japan.

🔍 Subtle Differences

だけど vs. けれども
だけど is more casual and direct. けれども is slightly more formal and softer.
When to use: Use だけど in everyday casual conversation. Use けれども when you need a slightly more polite “but” or want to soften the contrast.
だけど vs. しかし
だけど connects clauses casually. しかし is a formal conjunction, often used at the start of a sentence to introduce a strong contrast or counter-argument.
When to use: Use だけど in conversation. Use しかし in formal writing or speeches.
だけど vs. でも
だけど connects clauses. でも typically starts a sentence or clause and is slightly more emphatic on the contrast.
When to use: Use だけど to link contrasting clauses within the same sentence flow. Use でも when starting a new sentence or clause to introduce a contrast or objection.

📝 Conjugation Notes

Connects to the plain form: Verb: 行く + だけど -> 行くだけど (iku dakedo) I-adjective: 楽しい + だけど -> 楽しいだけど (tanoshii dakedo) Na-adjective: 綺麗だ + だけど -> 綺麗だだけど or 綺麗だけど (kirei da dakedo / kirei dakedo) Noun: 学生だ + だけど -> 学生だだけど or 学生だけど (gakusei da dakedo / gakusei dakedo) Note: だ is often omitted for na-adjectives and nouns in casual speech.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounced da-ke-do. The stress is relatively flat.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of だけど as the casual little brother of けれども.

Practice Exercises
Choose the correct sentence using だけど:
彼は学生ですだけど、よく勉強します。
彼は学生だだけど、よく勉強します。
彼は学生だけど、よく勉強します。
彼は学生だが、よく勉強します。
Which conjunction is more formal than だけど?
でも
けど
しかし
もん
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