Japanese word

ですが

Pronunciation

Romajidesuga

Meaning

  • conjunctionbut

Example

今日は休みですが、学校へ行きます。kyō wa yasu mi de su ga gak kō e i ki ma su

Today is a day off, but I am going to school.

Illustration for ですが (but)

More examples

明日は祝日ですが、店は開いています。asu wa shuku jitsu de su ga mise wa hira i te i ma su

Tomorrow is a holiday, but the store is open.

Core concept

Accepts the preceding point as true while shifting attention to a different or opposing point.

Common phrases

  • あいにくですがa i ni ku de su ga

    unfortunately

  • 失礼ですがshitsu rei de su ga

    excuse me, but

Similar words

でもdemo: Introduces a contrasting point, often as a separate sentence in everyday conversation.
だけどdakedo: Introduces a contrast or unexpected point in everyday conversation.

Definition in Japanese

前の事柄を認めた上で、反対または異なる事柄を導く接続語。mae no koto gara o mito me ta ue de han tai ma ta wa koto na ru koto gara o michibi ku setsu zoku go

Word origin

The expression ですが (desu ga) consists of です (desu, "is") and the conjunctive particle が (ga, "but"), forming a polite contrast marker.

Usage tips

  • A speaker may use ですが (desu ga) when moving from shared information to a request, reservation, or unexpected point.

Other meanings

  • althoughconjunction

Word lists with this word