“shikashi・demo・tokoroga・keredo・daga”: Five Ways to Say “But” (N4-N3) [JLPT N4]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

しかし, でも, けれど, だが, ところが — five “but”s, from formal to casual (plus the surprise one).

「しかし・でも・ところが・けれど・だが」 — five “but”s, differing in formality

They all mean “but,” so why is it 「しかし」 sometimes and 「でも」 other times? Japanese has a whole row of contrastive conjunctions: しかし (formal, written), でも (colloquial), ところが (an unexpected turn), けれど (a bit softer), だが (stiff, literary) — differing in formality and nuance. The wrong one for the setting (でも in a paper, だが in chat) is jarring. This guide sorts all five by formality, nuance, and setting at once.

Core: pick the contrastive by “formality, nuance”

All five mean “but”; choose by formality ＋ nuance:

• しかし = written, formal (papers, speeches, reports).
• でも = colloquial, everyday (most common in conversation).
• ところが = an unexpected turn (surprisingly, yet…).
• けれど (けれども) = softer than しかし, works spoken or written.
• だが = stiff, literary/critical writing.

The contrastives compared

Examples in context

• 道は険しい。しかし、決して諦めない。(The road is steep. But I'll never give up.) — formal written
• 高い。でも、買ってしまった。(It's pricey. But I bought it anyway.) — colloquial
• 出かけた。ところが、雨が降ってきた。(I went out. But then, unexpectedly, it rained.) — unexpected
• 疲れたけれど、楽しかった。(I was tired, but it was fun.) — softer
• 努力した。だが、報われなかった。(I worked hard. Yet it wasn't rewarded.) — stiff written

⚠️ Easy traps to avoid

① Don't use 「でも」 in papers or formal settings. 「でも」 is too casual; papers and formal reports need 「しかし」 (or だが). Conversely, 「だが」 in a chat with friends sounds stiff, like a speech. The setting decides which.

② 「ところが」 carries “unexpectedness.” Not a plain “but” — it's “surprisingly, yet…” (出かけた。ところが、雨が…). For a “contrary to expectation” turn; not fully interchangeable with しかし.

③ 「けれど」 works as both a conjunctive particle and a conjunction. Mid-sentence 「〜けれど、〜」 (though… but…, joining two clauses); sentence-initial 「けれど、〜」 (following on). Softer than しかし, common spoken or written.

🔄 Compare: しかし／でも／ところが

💡 Learning tip

For the five contrastives, remember the “formality ladder” and you'll choose right: formal/written → しかし (most general)／だが (stiffer); casual/everyday → でも (most common)／けれど (softer); unexpected turn → ところが. The most common mistake is the wrong setting: 「でも」 in a paper (too casual), 「だが」 in a chat (too stiff). Practical rule: use 「しかし」 for assignments and reports; use 「でも」 with friends — master these two first. Save 「ところが」 for “surprisingly, yet…” scenes, where the nuance is most vivid.

❓ Common questions

Q: How do I choose 「しかし」, 「でも」, 「だが」?

By formality. 「しかし」 = written, formal (papers, speeches, news — the most general contrastive); 「でも」 = colloquial, everyday (most common in conversation, don't use in papers); 「だが」 = stiffer written (literature, critique, a firm tone). Simple: formal writing → しかし, everyday speech → でも, which cover 90% of cases. 「だが」 is literary; in ordinary conversation it sounds stiff.

Q: Is 「ところが」 the same as 「しかし」?

Not quite. 「しかし」 is a neutral contrast (plain “but”); 「ところが」 carries an “unexpected, out of the blue” nuance (“surprisingly, yet…”). E.g. 「出かけた。ところが、雨が降ってきた」 (I went out; surprisingly, it rained) — stressing “contrary to expectation.” For a plain turn (no surprise), use しかし; for an “I thought…, but then…” surprise, ところが fits better.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「論文の結論部分に使う逆接」(a concessive used in a paper's conclusion) 最適切な表現は？

(A) でも　(B) けれど　(C) しかし　(D) ところが

Q2. 「来るはずだった。___、誰も来なかった。」(They were supposed to come, but unexpectedly no one did)

(A) でも　(B) ところが　(C) しかし　(D) だが

Q3. 「高い___、買ってしまった。」(It was expensive, but I bought it anyway — colloquial, gentle tone)

(A) しかし　(B) だが　(C) けれど　(D) ところが

Q4. 「ところが」と「のに」の違いは？

(A) exactly the same in meaning

(B) ところが: objectively narrates something unexpected; のに: a concessive containing feelings of dissatisfaction/regret

(C) ところが is used only in writing; のに only in colloquial speech

(D) ところが is formal language; のに is honorific (敬語)

Q5. Which adversative sounds most natural in a conversation between friends?

(A) しかし行く　(B) だが行く　(C) でも行く　(D) AとB, both most natural

Answer Explanations

1. (C) しかし ── Papers and written texts use the most formal しかし to express concession. でも is too colloquial, けれど is somewhat written but not as formal as しかし, and ところが carries a nuance of surprise unsuited to a conclusion.

2. (B) ところが ── 「来るはずだった。ところが、誰も来なかった」(they were supposed to come, but unexpectedly no one did) = ところが emphasizes the nuance of 'expected A, yet B — unexpectedly.'

3. (C) けれど ── 「高いけれど、買ってしまった」(it was expensive, but I bought it) = けれど is a gentle concessive, natural in conversation. しかし・だが are too formal, and ところが carries a nuance of surprise that doesn't fit.

4. (B) ── ところが: objectively narrates 'unexpectedly, such a result occurred' (the speaker's tone is neutral, describing facts); のに: always carries feelings of dissatisfaction or regret (勉強したのに落ちた = I studied yet failed — frustrating).

5. (C) でも行く ── In everyday conversation between friends, the most natural concessive is でも (the most colloquial). しかし・だが are too written and formal, and sound strange said between friends.