Grammar Info
N4 Lesson 8: 8/18

んだけど
But..., And...

Versions without ん/の are also acceptable but ん/の version is more common nowadays.

Structure
Casual
Polite
Phrase (A) + のだ(1) + (2) + Phrase (B)

(1) んだ
(2) けれどもけれどけどもけど
Phrase (A) + のです(1) + (2) + Phrase (B)

(1) んです
(2) けれどもけれどけどもけど
Details
Register Standard
使用域 一般
Information
んだけど is an expression that combines んだ (explaining/giving cause), with けど (but). Together they translate simply as ‘but...’, although the nuance is actually closer to ‘but with (A) as the reason… (B)’, while (B) is sometimes left unsaid. This implies that the speaker is looking for a reply, or does not want to say the (B) part of the sentence out of politeness/awkwardness.
  • 助(たす)かんだけど一人(ひとり)できるから帰(かえ)ってもいい
    I feel like you are being helpful, but I can handle it by myself, so you can go home.
  • 私(わたし)明日(あした)に釣(つ)りに行(い)くのですが先輩(せんぱい)行(い)きませんか
    I am going to go fishing tomorrow, but senpai, do you also want to go?
  • 新(あたら)しパソコン買(か)いたいのだけど...どれ買(か)えばいい分(わ)からない
    I want to buy a new computer, but… I don't know which one to buy.
There are several different forms of this construction that are mostly interchangeable with each other. From most casual, to most formal, they are as follows:
んだけどんだけれどんだけれどもんだがんですが
may be replaced with in any of the above expressions. However, it will again make it slightly more formal.
Caution
んだが, or simply だが is probably the ‘strongest’ out of these possibilities, and is considered quite masculine. If you are going to use this form, we recommend making sure that your tone is a bit softer, so that it does not sound too authoritative.
Fun Fact
ん (or の) may sometimes be omitted completely, but this is not so common in modern Japanese.
  • 顔(かお)いいのだけど...性格(せいかく)悪(わる)
    He has a good looking face, but… his personality is bad.
Slow Male
Hide All
Hide Japanese
Hide English
明日(あした)映画館(えいがかん)行(い)かない?」
行(い)きたいんだけど (明日(あした)試験(しけん)があるから行(い)けない)。」
"Won't you go to the cinema tomorrow?"
"I'd like to go, but… (I have an exam tomorrow, so I can't)."
Play  
新(あたら)しい時計(とけい)買(か)いたいのですが (どちらいいでしょうか) 。
I would like to buy a new watch, but… (which one would be good?)
[depending on context, it can be translated as 'and' or nothing at all]
Play  
昨日(きのう)告白(こくはく)どうなった?」
「こくはくしたんだけど (ふられた) 。」
"How did yesterday's confession go?"
"I confessed but… (I was rejected)."
Play