けど is one of the common conjunction particles in Japanese. These are particles that function by connecting the (A) and (B) parts of a sentence.
けど works very similarly to
が, in that it highlights ‘while thinking about (A), (B)’. This means that
けど will often come across as ‘but’ in English.
-
毎日(まいにち)泳(およ)ぐけど、今日(きょう)は泳(およ)がない。
I swim everyday, but I will not swim today.
-
北海道(ほっかいどう)は寒(さむい)いけど、綺麗(きれい)。
Hokkaido is cold, but pretty.
-
田舎(いなか)は静(しず)かだけど、不便(ふべん)だ。
The countryside is quiet, but inconvenient.
-
これはステーキだけど、冷(つめ)たい。
This is a steak, but it is cold.
As can be seen from these examples, just like many other grammatical constructions,
だ will be required when using
けど after a
な-Adjective, or a noun.
けど is just a modern (casual) version of
けれども. Please see below for a list of the most casual, to the most formal variations.
Casual -
けど -
けども -
けれど -
けれども -
が - Formal
-
私(わたし)は肉(にく)を食(た)べるけども、野菜(やさい)も好(す)き。
I eat meat, but I also like vegetables.
-
私(わたし)は水(みず)が怖(こわ)いけれど、泳(およ)ぐのが好(す)きです。
I am afraid of the water, but I like to swim.
-
お酒(さけ)は飲(の)むけれども、ワインは飲(の)まないです。
I drink alcoholic beverages, but I don't drink wine.
-
沖縄(おきなわ)は綺麗(きれい)ですが、暑(あつ)いです。
Okinawa is beautiful, but hot.
The phrase after
けど will often be omitted if it is obvious, or the speaker does not want to say it.