Structure
Phrase (A) + のだ(1) + が(2) + Phrase (B)
(1) んだ
(2) けれども、けれど、けども、けど
Details
Standard
About んだけど・んですが
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.
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
ん may be replaced with の 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.
Related
Vocab Coverage
All Bunpro Vocab that appears on this item.
Examples
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「昨日の告白はどうなったの？」
「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).'これほしいんだけど (たかい)。
I want this, but… (it is expensive).
やせられたらいいんだけど (難しいね)。
It would be great if I could lose some weight, but… (it is hard).
新しい時計を買いたいのですが (どちらがいいでしょうか)。
I would like to buy a new watch (and…) (which one would be good?)
窓が開いているからちょっと寒いんですが (どうか窓を閉めていただけませんか？)。
Since the window is open, it is a bit cold (and…) (I wonder if you wouldn't mind closing it?).
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Additional information and examples
J-Nihongo
Explanatory の / んだ / んだけど / んですが
Japanese Ammo
Offline
Genki II 2nd Edition
Page 82
Tobira
Page 93
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んだけど・んですが – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (25 in total)
LeIncreibleHonk
Why is it that のですけど is not included in this grammar point? To my understanding, it is synonymous.
The111
It is currently included in the structure section as an acceptable option.
But, I just got marked wrong for suggesting it as an answer (see below). But I’m guessing it’s just too hard to support the full combinatorial explosion of answers that is possible from the pattern in the lesson?
There are 3 component to the structure:
- ん or の (2 options)
- だ or です (2 options)
- けれども or けれど or けども or けど or が (5 options)
A total of 20 combinations exist. I think ...
kevinstark16
Does anyone else get confused by the parentheses in this grammar point?
From I understand, in an example sentence such as これほしいんだけど (たかい), the たかい in parentheses is actually part of the sentence and is formatted in that manner to indicate the speaker trailing off or speaking in a quieter tone みたいな感じ。
HOWEVER, whenever I encounter this grammar point with example sentences structured this way, I instinctually look to conjugate whatever is in the parentheses to match the rest of the sentence, as this is the exact pattern that every other grammar point has followed so far. Of course, it would not be grammatically correct to immediately follow これほしい with たかい or anything other than some kind of conjunctive or sentence-ending particle. But the fact that I’ve been conditioned to see the parentheses as the “hey, you need to conjugate this / fit it into the sentence” indicator makes it so that I first try to make some conjugation of たかい fit into the sentence acc...