Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 1: 11/18

だが

But, Still, However, Nevertheless

Structure

だが + Phrase

Details

  • Register

    Formal

  • 使用域

    硬い

About だが・ですが

While だが (or ですが as a polite equivalent) are classified as their own words, they are actually just combinations of だ, or です, and が. だが is usually used as a formal way of saying 'but', or 'nevertheless'. Due to this, we can see that だ is being used to 'determine' that a statement is true, while が simply shows that there is other important information to follow.
In this way, だが is very similar to the expression 'that may be, but…' in English. だが may be used at the beginning of any phrase, or between sentences.
  • 彼(かれ)は弁護士(べんごし)だが、頭(あたま)が良(よ)くない、不思議(ふしぎ)だ。
    He is a lawyer, but he is not very smart… How odd.
  • 宝(たから)くじを100枚(まい)買(か)った。だが、当(あ)たらなかった。
    I bought 100 lottery tickets. However, I didn't win.
Caution
When using ですが, it will automatically mean that the rest of the sentence should also use polite speech.
  • 美容室(びようしつ)に行(い)ったのですが、高(たか)かったので帰(かえ)りました。
    I went to the hair salon, but since it was expensive, I came home.
To make だが sound a little bit softer, sometimes ね is added. However, this is not so common in modern-day Japanese, and is more limited to the older generation.
  • 君(きみ)はいい人(ひと)だと聞(き)いた。だがね、まだ君(きみ)を信用(しんよう)できない。
    I have heard that you are a good person. However, I can't trust you yet.
Fun Fact
Due to だが and ですが using が (the formal equivalent of けど), this phrase can sound quite stiff. Therefore, it is far more common to hear でも at the beginning of a sentence in casual speech.

Examples

  • 大統領(だいとうりょう)が言(い)いました。ですが、私(わたし)は信(しん)じません。

    The president said that. However, I don't believe it.

  • 毎日(まいにち)運動(うんどう)をしました。ですが、痩(や)せていません。

    I exercised everyday. However, I haven't lost any weight.

  • 本当(ほんとう)は私(わたし)がしなくてはならない。だがね、君(きみ)にしてほしい。

    Really, it is I who has to do it. However, I want you to do it.

  • これが基本(きほん)ルールだ。だが、例外(れいがい)もある。

    This is a basic rule. However, there are also exceptions.

  • 明日(あした)から、旅行(りょこう)に行(い)きます。ですが、まだチケットを買(か)っていません。

    I am going on a trip tomorrow. However, I still haven't bought my ticket.

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だが・ですが – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (16 in total)

  • MeTheHamster

    MeTheHamster

    本当ほんとうは私わたしがしなくてはならない。 だがね 、君きみにしてほしい。

    As someone else mentioned, could there be a hint as to who is speaking?

    Lessons says:
    [だがね can be used in speech but it is rarely used nowadays and mostly limited to the older generation]
    So it wasn’t obvious to me I had to use this one

  • semanticman

    semanticman

    I agree that this is confusing. The lesson says:

    “To make だが sound a little bit softer, sometimes ね is added. However, this is not so common in modern-day Japanese, and is more limited to the older generation.”

    But in response to supplying ”だが” as the answer, this hint appears:

    “ だが is used in formal written language, could you use a form that can be used in conversation? Hint: Just add something at the end.”

    This appears to be a contradiction.

  • Yumari-1

    Yumari-1

    Aaand here I’m chiming in to see that the exact thing I wanted to write was already here. Sorry for the thread necro, but I really think that it’s confusing the way the lesson states it’s just an old relic, but you suddenly have to write it down in response to this one:

    本当は私がしなくてはならない。だがね、君にしてほしい。

    If the lesson traches you だが／ですが, then why require a different form? Should we use it or not after all? And in what circumstances if so?

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