Grammar Info
N5 Lesson 5: 6/12

But, However

が can sometimes mean something closer to 'and', or a comma that connects clauses

Structure
Casual
Polite
Verb +
[い]Adjective +
[な]Adjective + +
Noun + +
Verb (Polite) +
[い]Adjective + です +
[な]Adjective + です +
Noun + です +
Details
Part of Speech Particle
Word Type Conjunctive Particle
Register Standard
品詞 助詞
単語の種類 接続助詞
使用域 一般
Information
As a particle, has several different uses in Japanese. However, each of these different uses share a common theme. That theme expresses ‘highlighting (A) as important, (B)’. In this use, comes across as ‘but’, or ‘however’ in English.
This nuance of is used directly after any form of verb or い-Adjective, but requires one of the conjugations of or です before it when used with a noun or な-Adjective.
  • 毎日(まいにち)走(はし)、運動(うんどう)きらい
    I run everyday, but I don't like exercise.
  • このカレー辛(から)、美味(おい)し
    This curry is spicy, but delicious.
  • 車(くるま)便利(べんり)、危(あぶ)な
    Cars are convenient, but dangerous.
  • お金(かね)大切(たいせつ)、時間(じかん)大切(たいせつ)
    Money is important, but time is also important.
From these examples, we can see that is simply highlighting that ‘while (A) is important, there is extra information’. with the meaning of ‘but’ is considered to be very formal, this is due to it sounding quite direct in asserting that there is extra information.
Caution
Sometimes a statement will end with . In these cases it just means that more information exists, but it is obvious, so it does not need to be said.
  • まあ、綺麗(きれい)です
    Well, it is pretty, but… (I still don’t like it)
Slow Male
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難(むずか)しいです、頑張(がんば)ります
It is difficult, but I will do my best.
In an AがB sentence, unlike many other grammar points, the politeness in the A and B clauses (parts of the sentence) should match. So 難しいが、頑張る and 難しいですが、頑張ります are correct. However 難しいが、頑張ります would be considered unnatural by a great number of speakers.
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寒(さむ)いです外(そと)行(い)きます
It’s cold, but I will go outside.
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ロイさん携帯(けいたい)古(ふる)いです、速(はや)です
Roy's cellphone is old, but it is fast.
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Books
みんなの日本語 I
Page 56 [CH 8]
みんなの日本語 II
Page 126 [CH 45]
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 120
Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar Guide
Page 110