けど ／ けれども

"but / although" — casual equivalent of the conjunction が.

けど means "but / although" and is the casual version of the conjunction が. 高いけど、買います "It's expensive, but I'll buy it". It attaches to plain or polite forms. Nouns and な-adjectives take だけど in plain style (学生だけど). From casual to formal: けど < けれど < けれども. At the end of a sentence, 〜けど… leaves the thought hanging politely.

Everyday conversation with friends and family. In polite conversation, けど after ですます is common and acceptable; in writing, が is preferred.

• Clause 1 (plain or polite) + けど／けれど／けれども、Clause 2

1. 01

   高いけど、買います。

   たかいけど、かいます。

   It's expensive, but I'll buy it.

   い-adjective + けど.

2. 02

   頑張ったけど、試験に落ちました。

   がんばったけど、しけんに おちました。

   I tried hard, but I failed the exam.

   Plain past + けど.

3. 03

   田中さんは親切だけど、ちょっと厳しいです。

   たなかさんは しんせつだけど、ちょっと きびしいです。

   Mr Tanaka is kind, but a little strict.

   な-adjective + だけど.

4. 04

   この店は有名だけど、ちょっと高い。

   この みせは ゆうめいだけど、ちょっと たかい。

   This shop is famous, but a bit expensive.

   な-adjective + だ + けど.

5. 05

   雨が降っているけど、出かけます。

   あめが ふっているけど、でかけます。

   It's raining, but I'm going out.

   Plain verb + けど, polite ending.

• が (but)

  Same meaning; が is more polite and used in writing. Compare side by side

• でも

  でも begins a new sentence. Compare side by side

• ✗

  学生けど

  ✓

  学生だけど

  Why

  Nouns need だ before けど in plain style.

• ✗

  静かけど

  ✓

  静かだけど

  Why

  な-adjectives need だ before けど.

• ✗

  高いだけど

  ✓

  高いけど

  Why

  い-adjectives never take だ.

な-adjectives and nouns take だけど in plain style (親切だけど, 学生だけど). Politeness scale: けど (casual) < けれど < けれども (formal) ≈ が. At the end of a sentence 〜けど… leaves the thought trailing politely.