Structure Legend
Structure
Verb + ことは + Verb(*) + が(1)
[い]Adjective + ことは + [い]Adjective(*) + が(1)
[な]Adjective + なことは + [な]Adjective(*) + だが(1)
(1) けど、けども、けれど、けれども
(*) The same Adjective or Verb
Details
Register
Standard
使用域
一般
About ことは〜が
ことは~が is a set expression which indicates that 'while something is (A), also (B)'. In English, this is usually interpreted as '(A) is true, but (B), or 'although (A), (B)'. When this grammar structure is used, the same word will be repeated before both ことは and が (or けど). Due to this, the literal translation is similar to 'that which is (A) is (A), but (B)'. This simply emphasizes that the speaker recognizes (A) as being true, but would like to express information that is contrary to that.
ことは~が can appear with any type of word, but だ will need to be used following nouns before が, while な, である, だった or ではない tends to follow な-Adjectives.
ことは~が can appear with any type of word, but だ will need to be used following nouns before が, while な, である, だった or ではない tends to follow な-Adjectives.
- 漢字は読めることは読めるが、簡単な漢字しか読めないです。It is true that I can read kanji, but I can only read easy ones.
- 新しい家は広いことは広いけど、家具が多いから狭く見える。It is true that my new house is spacious, but because there is a lot of furniture, it looks small.
- このスマホは便利であることは便利であるけど、本体がデカすぎて片手では操作できない。It is true that this smartphone is useful, but because it is big, I can't use it with just one hand.
- ここは道路なことは道路だけど、狭すぎて車が通れない。It is true that this road is a road, but it is too narrow that a car can't pass through.
Examples
岩村: 「日本語が分かりますか?」
土井: 「分かることは分かりますが、簡単な言葉だけです。」Iwamura: 'Do you understand Japanese?'
Doi: 'It is true that I understand it, but only simple vocabulary.'遠藤: 「北村さんって、日本に行ったことある?」
北村: 「行ったことは行ったけど、東京の空港を見ただけだよ。」Endo: 'Kitamura-san, have you ever been to Japan?'
Kitamura: 'It is true that I have been there, but I have only seen Tokyo Airport.'藤本: 「守口さんって、優しい人らしい。」
石川: 「優しいことは優しいが、自分の家族に対してだけ。」Fujimoto: 'I have heard that Moriguchi-san is a nice person.'
Ishikawa: 'Well, it is true that Moriguchi-san is nice, but only towards her family.'雨に濡れたことは濡れたが、大したことはなかった。
It is true that it got soaked by the rain, but it wasn't a big deal.
熱が出たことは出たが、インフルエンザではありませんでした。
It is true that I had a fever, but it wasn't the flu.
Get more example sentences!
Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.
Self-Study Sentences
Study your own way!
Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.
Online
X + ことは + X
Japanese Stack Exchange
Breakdown and Additional Sentences
JapaneseTest4You
Offline
Tobira
Page 195
[DBJG] A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar
Page 206
[AIAIJ] An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese
Page 113
Track Resources!
Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.
ことは〜が – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (2 in total)
rukimon
About 6 months ago
In this grammar form, how do you know which form the verb should take on both sides of the ことは ?
My understanding was that the verb should be in exactly the same form on both sides of ことは
However, in the examples on Bunpro, I also see
分かることは分かりますが、簡単な言葉だけです。(mixed politeness levels)
ボルトは外れることは外れたが, これ以上分解できない。(mixed tenses)
引越しはしたことはしたが、こっちの家も欠陥住宅だった。(both instances in past tense)nekoyama
About 6 months ago
Politeness:
Politeness markers are usually not used in the middle of a sentence, so if the speaker wants to be polite the second word is the only option.
Tense:
For events in the past, the second word is in the past form, but the first word doesn’t have to be. There is no difference in meaning.
Got questions about ことは〜が? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!
Join the Discussion