Mastering けど (Kedo): The Casual ‘But’ and Soft Introducer (JLPT N5 Grammar)

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Mastering けど (Kedo): The Casual ‘But’ and Soft Introducer (JLPT N5 Grammar)
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

“but,” “though,” “however,” or a soft, neutral connective.

🎯 Primary Function

A conjunction/connective particle used to link two contrasting ideas or to gently preface a statement, question, or request.

📋 Grammar Structure

Plain Form of Verb/Adjective + けど
i-adjective Plain Form + けど
な-adjective stem + だ + けど
Plain Form Negative + けど

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Used less frequently. が (ga) or けれども (keredomo) are preferred for formality.

😊 Informal Situations

Extremely common and is the default ‘but’ for casual speech.

✍️ Written Language

Common in informal writing (emails, texts, fiction), but usually avoided in formal reports or essays.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Highly frequent. Essential for natural conversational Japanese.

💡 Common Applications

Expressing Simple Contrast or Concession
Used to indicate that the second clause presents a fact that contrasts with or limits the first clause.
Example: このケーキはおいしいけど、高すぎます。(Kono kēki wa oishii kedo, takasugimasu.)
Softening an Introduction or Request (Preface)
Used to gently introduce a main topic, question, or request. It often implies that the speaker is hesitant or expecting a response.
Example: すみません、ちょっと聞きたいことがあるんですけど… (Sumimasen, chotto kikitai koto ga aru n desu kedo…)
Stating a Reservation or Expectation
The sentence is intentionally left incomplete, suggesting an unstated opposition or reservation (e.g., “but it was too short” or “but I got tired”).
Example: 旅行は楽しかったけど… (Ryokō wa tanoshikatta kedo…)
📊
Frequency
Extremely high in daily conversation and informal contexts.
🎚️
Difficulty
N5 (Basic Conceptually, Intermediate for Nuance)
Tag:

Related Kanji

JLPT N5 Kanji List

Related Vocabulary

JLPT N5 Vocabulary List
Example Sentences
Example #1
毎日運動しているけど、ぜんぜん痩せない。
Furigana: まいにち うんどうしているけど、ぜんぜん やせない。
Romaji: Mainichi undō shiteiru kedo, zenzen yasenai.
English: I exercise every day, but I don’t lose weight at all.
Example #2
この本はおもしろいけど、ちょっと高いです。
Furigana: この ほんは おもしろいけど、ちょっと たかいです。
Romaji: Kono hon wa omoshiroi kedo, chotto takai desu.
English: This book is interesting, but it’s a little expensive.
Example #3
彼女は親切だけど、少し心配性だ。
Furigana: かのじょは しんせつだけど、すこし しんぱいしょうだ。
Romaji: Kanojo wa shinsetsu da kedo, sukoshi shinpaishō da.
English: She is kind, but she worries a lot.
Example #4
今、時間があるんだけど、手伝ってくれない？
Furigana: いま、じかんがあるんだけど、てつだって くれない？
Romaji: Ima, jikan ga aru n da kedo, tetsudatte kurenai?
English: I have time now, so could you help me? (Literally: I have time now, but…)
Example #5
この漢字の読み方が知りたいんだけど…
Furigana: この かんじの よみかたが しりたいんだけど…
Romaji: Kono kanji no yomikata ga shiritai n da kedo…
English: I’d like to know how to read this kanji… (Implied: Can you tell me?)
Example #6
魚は好きだけど、肉もよく食べます。
Furigana: さかなは すきだけど、にくも よく たべます。
Romaji: Sakana wa suki da kedo, niku mo yoku tabemasu.
English: I like fish, but I also eat meat often.
Example #7
昨日は雨が降ったけど、今日は晴れだ。
Furigana: きのうは あめが ふったけど、きょうは はれだ。
Romaji: Kinō wa ame ga futta kedo, kyō wa hare da.
English: It rained yesterday, but it’s sunny today.
Example #8
映画は見ますけど、あまり好きじゃないです。
Furigana: えいがは みますけど、あまり すきじゃないです。
Romaji: Eiga wa mimasu kedo, amari suki janai desu.
English: I watch movies, but I don’t like them very much.
Example #9
この町は静かじゃないけど、便利です。
Furigana: この まちは しずかじゃないけど、べんりです。
Romaji: Kono machi wa shizuka ja nai kedo, benri desu.
English: This town is not quiet, but it is convenient.
Example #10
彼は学生だけど、とても大人っぽい。
Furigana: かれは がくせいだけど、とても おとなっぽい。
Romaji: Kare wa gakusei da kedo, totemo otonappoi.
English: He is a student, but he seems very mature.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Sentence-Final けど (Implied Clause)
けど can be used at the end of a sentence. This implies an unstated opposition or reservation, inviting the listener to infer the rest or ask for clarification.
Example: あれ、ちょっと高いけど… (Are, chotto takai kedo…)
The Softening Role of んですけど/だけど
The pattern んですけど (n desu kedo) or だけど (n da kedo) is crucial for making requests or suggestions sound much gentler and less direct in Japanese.
Example: お腹が空いたんだけど、何か食べる？ (Onaka ga suita n da kedo, nani ka taberu?)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Using けど in a highly formal business presentation.
✅ Replace けど with が (ga) or けれども (keredomo).
While けど is widely accepted, using it in very high-level business or academic contexts can sound too casual. Switch to a more formal equivalent.
❌ 接続はきれいけど (Kirei kedo) when the full form is necessary.
✅ Ensure all verb/adjective forms preceding けど are in the plain form. (e.g., 食べますけど → 食べるけど)
While “ますけど” is often used to soften the tone, the most structurally standard connection is using the plain form (dictionary form, ta-form, nai-form, etc.). Na-adjectives and Nouns must use だ before けど.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Casual to Moderately Polite. It is softer than simply stating two facts abruptly, making it useful even in slightly polite contexts when you need to preface a request.
Social Situations: Ideal for conversations with friends, family, or colleagues. Using the longer けれども is safer for interacting with superiors or elders.
Regional Variations: The form だけど (da kedo) is often slightly more common in Kanto (Tokyo area). Other regions may have variations, but けど is universally understood.

🔍 Subtle Differences

けど (kedo) vs. が (ga)
けど is more casual and is generally preferred in daily speech. が is more neutral and often chosen for written language or slightly more formal contexts.
When to use: Use けど in casual conversations and to gently introduce a request. Use が when you need a neutral connection or in slightly more structured communication.
けど (kedo) vs. けれども (keredomo)
けれども is the full, formal version of けど. It conveys a strong, polite contrast and is common in formal writing.
When to use: Use けれども in speeches, formal letters, or when speaking to superiors. Use けど in almost all other informal situations.

📝 Conjugation Notes

けど generally attaches to the plain (dictionary) form of verbs and i-adjectives. For na-adjectives and nouns, the copula だ is required (e.g., 好きだ けど, 学生だ けど), although the だ is often omitted in extremely casual speech. The polite forms (ます/です) followed by けど (e.g., 食べます けど) are also frequently used to soften the tone.

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

The sound is often slightly elongated (like a soft pause) when used as a preface or to imply hesitation. When connecting two contrasting clauses, it flows more smoothly into the next phrase.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of けど as “But (softly).” It’s the softer, conversational twin of が (ga). The four-letter combination K-E-D-O is easy to remember and signifies its slightly more casual nature than the two-letter GA.

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