でも vs しかし
JLPT N5 vocabulary · what is the difference?
Both mean "but" at the start of a sentence, and the difference is register: でも is what you say out loud and write to friends, しかし belongs to essays, news and formal speeches. If you want "but" in the middle of one sentence, neither is right — use が or けど.
When to use each
でも
でも
Use でも to start a new sentence in conversation, chat messages and casual writing. It is the default "but" in speech, and it sounds friendly rather than argumentative.
高いです。でも、買います。
たかいです。でも、かいます。
It is expensive. But I am going to buy it.
雨ですね。でも、行きましょう。
あめですね。でも、いきましょう。
It is raining. But let us go anyway.
しかし
しかし
Use しかし at the start of a sentence in writing — reports, essays, news — or in formal speech. It marks a deliberate turn in the argument, so in ordinary chat it sounds stiff or theatrical.
値段は安いです。しかし、品質はよくありません。
ねだんはやすいです。しかし、ひんしつはよくありません。
The price is low. However, the quality is not good.
努力した。しかし、結果は出なかった。
どりょくした。しかし、けっかはでなかった。
I made the effort. However, no results came of it.
Sentences where only one works
おいしいね。でも、ちょっと高いね。
おいしいね。でも、ちょっとたかいね。
Tasty, isn't it. But a bit expensive.
Two friends eating together. しかし here would sound like the opening of a news report.
この方法は安い。しかし、時間がかかる。
このほうほうはやすい。しかし、じかんがかかる。
This method is cheap. However, it takes time.
A written comparison of options; しかし is the normal choice, and でも would read as too chatty for a report.
高いですが、買います。
たかいですが、かいます。
It is expensive, but I will buy it.
One sentence, so the "but" is が. Neither でも nor しかし can join two clauses like this.
高いけど、買うよ。
たかいけど、かうよ。
It is pricey, but I will buy it.
The casual version of the same join. けど is the spoken partner of が, not of でも.
Common mistakes
高いです、でも買います。
高いですが、買います。
でも starts a fresh sentence; it cannot sit inside one after a comma the way English "but" does. Use が or けど to join two clauses.
友だちに「しかし、疲れたね」と言った。
友だちに「でも、疲れたね」と言った。
しかし in casual conversation sounds like a newsreader. Between friends, でも is the natural word.
Frequently asked questions
Are でも and しかし ever interchangeable?
Yes. In neutral writing such as a blog post either can begin the sentence and the meaning is identical; only how formal you sound changes.
Which one should I use in an email to my teacher?
しかし is safe in the body of a formal email. でも is fine in a friendly message, but for anything you would write politely, しかし or ですが reads better.
What about だけど and ですが?
だけど is でも with the copula attached and works the same way at the start of a casual sentence. ですが is the polite mid-sentence join, roughly the formal version of けど.