Grammar Info

N5 Lesson 10: 11/12

けれども

But, Although

Structure

Verb + けれども
［い］Adjective + けれども
［な］Adjective + だ + けれども
Noun + だ + けれども

Details

  • Part of Speech

    Particle

  • Word Type

    Conjunctive Particle

  • Register

    Formal

  • 品詞

    助詞

  • 単語の種類

    接続助詞

  • 使用域

    硬い

About けれども

けれども is the more formal (full version) of the conjunction particle けど. Like けど, it usually carries the meaning of 'but', but because of its formality, sounds a bit more like 'although', or 'provided that'. It simply highlights that 'while thinking about (A), (B)'. Meaning that the (B) phrase is important, or needs to be considered.
  • 私(わたし)は１０キロ走(はし)ったけれども、疲(つか)れていません。
    I ran 10km, but I am not tired.
  • 温泉(おんせん)は熱(あつ)いけれども、気持(きも)ちいいです。
    Onsens are hot, but they feel good.
  • あの人(ひと)は綺麗(きれい)だけれども、怖(こわ)いです。
    That person is beautiful, but scary.
  • これはゲームだけれども、面白(おもしろ)くないです。
    This is a game, but it is not fun.
As can be seen from these examples, だ will be required when using this conjunction after a な-Adjective, or a noun.
As a reminder, please see below for a list of the most casual form of 'but', to the most formal.
Casual - けど - けども - けれど - けれども - が - Formal
  • このパソコンは古(ふる)いけども、便利(べんり)だ。
    This computer is old, but useful.
  • 薬(くすり)を飲(の)んだけれど、まだ頭(あたま)が痛(いた)い。
    I took medicine, but my head still hurts.
  • 走(はし)るのは疲(つか)れるけれども、楽(たの)しいです。
    Running is tiring, but it is fun.
  • 田舎(いなか)は静(しず)かだが、やる事(こと)が無(な)い。
    The countryside is quiet, but there is nothing to do.
Fun Fact
Originally, けれども was thought to be a more feminine version of が. However, the modern けど is so common that it has lost all of the feminine nuance that came from けれども.
Caution
As with けど (and other forms of 'but' in Japanese), the phrase after けれども will often be omitted if it is obvious, or the speaker does not want to say it.
  • もう晩(ばん)ご飯(はん)食(た)べたけれども。
    I already ate dinner, but… (There's always room for dessert!)

Examples

  • 私(わたし)はこの本(ほん)が好(す)きではないけれども、あなたは好(す)きでしょう。

    I don't like this book, but you do, don't you?

  • トムに言(い)ったけれども、トムは忘(わす)れました。

    I told that to Tom, but he forgot.

  • 掃除(そうじ)をしたけれども、まだ汚(きたな)い。

    I cleaned, but it is still dirty.

  • 映画(えいが)を見(み)るのは楽(たの)しいけれども、チケットが高(たか)い。

    Watching movies is fun, but tickets are expensive.

  • 電車(でんしゃ)は便利(べんり)だけれども、いつも人(ひと)が多(おお)い。

    The train is convenient, but there are always a lot of people.

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けれども – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (7 in total)

  • TheUltimateAbsol

    TheUltimateAbsol

    About 3 years ago

    Thanks! Detailed explanations like this are hard to find

  • diddy_dante

    diddy_dante

    About 8 months ago

    in
    トムに言った_[formal expression]_、トムは忘れました。

    How come んだけれども is accepted but not んですけれども? Especially after reading your text, you say that ですけれども is actually more common than だけれども.

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    About 8 months ago

    Hey and welcome on the community forums @diddy_dante
    Thanks for the post, it is now accepted as an answer

    Cheers!

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