だけど
🃏 Flashcard
だけど
dakedo
Tap to reveal usage
however; but
N3
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N3
Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast
Reading
dakedo
Post ID
50830
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
however; but
📖 How to use it
A common conjunction meaning 'but' or 'however', used to contrast two clauses or soften a statement.
Attaches to
Connects two sentences or clauses; attaches to the end of the first sentence (after any verb, adjective, or noun in any form, including plain or polite).
だけど is a very common spoken and written connector meaning 'but'. It joins two contrasting ideas, and can also be used at the start of a sentence to respond or add a contrasting point. It is similar to しかし, but much more casual and natural in everyday conversation.
You can use it to show surprise, disagreement, or simply to add information that contrasts with what was said before. It often appears after a pause or at the start of a sentence, especially in speech. In writing, it might be used in essays but is less formal than しかし.
天気はよかった。だけど、風が強かった。
Tenki wa yokatta. Dakedo, kaze ga tsuyokatta.
The weather was good. But the wind was strong.
この店は高い。だけど、味はすごくいい。
Kono mise wa takai. Dakedo, aji wa sugoku ii.
This shop is expensive. But the taste is really good.
勉強した。だけど、テストは難しかった。
Benkyou shita. Dakedo, tesuto wa muzukashikatta.
I studied. But the test was hard.
Not しかし
しかし is more formal and often used in writing or polite speech, while だけど is casual and common in everyday conversation.
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Spoken and casual; used in both informal and somewhat polite conversation, but not in formal writing or speeches.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
だけど
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat だけど three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using だけど. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N3 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern だけど mean?
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However; but
What JLPT level is だけど?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N3 — Intermediate · Expressing nuance & contrast. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use だけど in a sentence?
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Attach だけど (dakedo) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is だけど formal or casual Japanese?
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だけど is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember だけど long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.