Japanese Grammar: How to use でも (demo) – “But / However”

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Japanese Grammar: How to use でも (demo) – “But / However”
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

But / However

🎯 Primary Function

Conjunction used to connect two sentences with opposing or contrasting meanings.

📋 Grammar Structure

[Sentence 1 (Verb)]。でも、[Sentence 2]。
[Sentence 1 (i-adjective)]。でも、[Sentence 2]。
[Sentence 1 (na-adjective)]。でも、[Sentence 2]。
[Sentence 1 (Negative Form)]。でも、[Sentence 2]。

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Generally avoided in very formal writing or official speeches, where ‘shikashi’ or ‘tadashi’ are preferred.

😊 Informal Situations

Extremely common in daily life and casual conversations among friends and family.

✍️ Written Language

Used in emails, texts, and casual stories, but less so in formal essays.

🗣️ Spoken Language

The most common way to say ‘but’ when starting a new sentence.

💡 Common Applications

Connecting contrasting sentences
Used at the beginning of a new sentence to show a contrast with the previous statement.
Example: あつい。でも、たべたい。(It’s hot. But I want to eat it.)
Conversational transitions
Very common in spoken Japanese to gently introduce a conflicting opinion or situation.
Example: ごめん。でも、いけない。(Sorry. But I can’t go.)
📊
Frequency
High
🎚️
Difficulty
N5 (Beginner)
Tag:

Related Kanji

JLPT N5 Kanji List

Related Vocabulary

JLPT N5 Vocabulary List
Example Sentences
Example #1
寿司は好きです。でも、わさびは嫌いです。
Furigana: すしはすきです。でも、わさびはきらいです。
Romaji: Sushi wa suki desu. Demo, wasabi wa kirai desu.
English: I like sushi, but I hate wasabi.
Example #2
日本語は難しいです。でも、面白いです。
Furigana: にほんごはむずかしいです。でも、おもしろいです。
Romaji: Nihongo wa muzukashii desu. Demo, omoshiroi desu.
English: Japanese is difficult, but it is interesting.
Example #3
この靴はきれいです。でも、高いです。
Furigana: このくつはきれいです。でも、たかいです。
Romaji: Kono kutsu wa kirei desu. Demo, takai desu.
English: These shoes are pretty, but they are expensive.
Example #4
デパートに行きました。でも、何も買いませんでした。
Furigana: デパートにいきました。でも、なにもかいませんでした。
Romaji: Depāto ni ikimashita. Demo, nani mo kaimasen deshita.
English: I went to the department store, but I didn’t buy anything.
Example #5
外は寒いです。でも、散歩します。
Furigana: そとはさむいです。でも、さんぽします。
Romaji: Soto wa samui desu. Demo, sanpo shimasu.
English: It is cold outside, but I will take a walk.
Example #6
ケーキを食べたいです。でも、お腹がいっぱいです。
Furigana: ケーキをたべたいです。でも、おなかがいっぱいです。
Romaji: Kēki o tabetai desu. Demo, onaka ga ippai desu.
English: I want to eat cake, but I am full.
Example #7
昨日は雨でした。でも、楽しかったです。
Furigana: きのうはあめでした。でも、たのしかったです。
Romaji: Kinō wa ame deshita. Demo, tanoshikatta desu.
English: It rained yesterday, but it was fun.
Example #8
宿題は大変です。でも、頑張ります。
Furigana: しゅくだいはたいへんです。でも、がんばります。
Romaji: Shukudai wa taihen desu. Demo, ganbarimasu.
English: The homework is hard, but I will do my best.
Example #9
部屋は狭いです。でも、きれいです。
Furigana: へやはせまいです。でも、きれいです。
Romaji: Heya wa semai desu. Demo, kirei desu.
English: The room is small, but it is clean.
Example #10
彼は親切です。でも、少し怖いです。
Furigana: かれはしんせつです。でも、すこしこわいです。
Romaji: Kare wa shinsetsu desu. Demo, sukoshi kowai desu.
English: He is kind, but he is a little scary.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Sentence Placement
Demo usually requires a period before it and often a comma after it in writing.
Example: あめです。でも、いきます。(It’s raining. But I’m going.)
Grammatical distinction from ‘ga’
‘Ga’ is a particle that joins two clauses into one sentence. ‘Demo’ is a conjunction that starts a new sentence.
Example: が (ga) vs でも (demo)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ すきです でも にがてです。
✅ すきです。でも、にがてです。 (I like it. But I’m not good at it.)
Demo should start a new sentence. It cannot be used to join two clauses into one sentence like the particle ‘ga’.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral-polite. It is safe for most daily interactions.
Social Situations: Common in all social situations except for formal business writing or academic papers.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese; understood and used everywhere.

🔍 Subtle Differences

Demo vs Shikashi
Demo is conversational; Shikashi is formal and used in literature or formal speeches.
When to use: Use Demo for speaking; use Shikashi for formal writing.
Demo vs Keredomo/Kedo
Kedo is more versatile and can be used as both a conjunction and a sentence-ending particle to soften a statement.
When to use: Use Demo to start a sentence clearly; use Kedo to connect clauses within one sentence.

📝 Conjugation Notes

‘Demo’ is a conjunction and does not conjugate. It remains the same regardless of the tense or politeness of the surrounding sentences.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

Pronounce ‘de’ like in ‘desk’ and ‘mo’ like in ‘more’. Avoid stressing either syllable too heavily.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of ‘Demo’ as the Japanese version of ‘However’ or ‘But’ that specifically likes to stand at the front of a sentence.

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