ところがEven so, However, Even though, But

Both だが・ですが and ところが express contrast, but with different nuances. だが・ですが is a neutral transition similar to 'but' or 'however,' and can appear in various positions within a sentence. ところが usually comes at the start of a sentence and emphasizes an unexpected or surprising result, often appearing in storytelling or narration.

Both express contrast, but with different nuance. ところが introduces an unexpected result, e.g. 試合に勝つと思った。ところが負けた ('I thought we'd win the game. But we lost.') それにしても acknowledges the situation but adds an emotional reaction or further judgment, e.g. 仕方がない。それにしても悔しい ('It can't be helped. Even so, it's frustrating.')

Both introduce unexpected outcomes, but differ in type of surprise. 却って means the result was the opposite of what was intended or expected, e.g. 謝ったら却って怒られた ('When I apologized, I was yelled at instead.') ところが highlights a surprising turn of events, though not necessarily the exact opposite, e.g. 田中さんに電話をかけた。ところがもう出発していた ('I called Tanaka. But he had already departed.')

Both ところが and が express contrast or contradiction. ところが is used at the beginning of a sentence to emphasize a contrast between expectation and reality. In contrast, が is used after a phrase or at the end of a sentence to express simple contrast, or sometimes to add information or context without implying surprise or expectation.

Both ところが and けど・だけど express contrast or contradiction. The key difference is that ところが is used at the beginning of a sentence to emphasize a contrast between the expected result and reality, and is more formal. In contrast, けど・だけど are used after a phrase or at the end of a sentence to express simple contrast or contradiction.

それでも and ところが both show contrast, like 'even so' or 'and yet'. それでも has a neutral tone and simply adds something that goes against the previous statement. ところが implies something unexpected or surprising happened, especially outside the speaker's control.

Both ところが and けれども are linking phrases used to express contrast. けれども (or the casual form けど) shows a simple contrast or transition, similar to 'but' in English, and can appear mid-sentence or at the end. In contrast, ところが is typically used at the beginning of a sentence and adds a strong nuance of surprise or something unexpected.