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

The Japanese grammatical particle が often marks the subject of a sentence and can be used to express contrasts or unexpected situations. On the other hand, ところが, which literally translates to "place is" but is often used to mean "however" or "despite", is used to bring a twist to the narrative, introducing a surprising fact or event that was contrary to the speaker's expectations or the situations stated before.

The phrase "却って" is used to express an outcome that is opposite or different from what one might expect, often translating to "on the contrary" or "instead." It usually indicates a surprising or unexpected result. "ところが," on the other hand, is used to express a contrast between two situations or facts, showing a contradiction or conflict, similar to "however" or "but" in English. It is typically used when the following information contradicts the previous assumption or expectation.

While both ところが and それにしても can translate as 'even so' or 'nevertheless' in English, there is a nuance difference in their usage. ところが is often used when presenting an unexpected result or a contradiction to the preceding statement, very much like 'however' or 'but' in English. On the other hand, それにしても implies a stronger sense of surprise or emphasis on the contrast, and it typically conveys a sense of disbelief or regret over the situation, almost like saying 'even considering that, it's still surprising/unfortunate...'.

The Japanese conjunctions だが/ですが and ところが both can mean 'however' or 'but,' indicating some level of contrast or contradiction. But their usage seems to differ based on context and degree of contrast. だが/ですが is often used to provide a counterpoint or to transition to a new idea, often used more in casual conversation or formal writing. On the other hand, ところが often suggests a surprising or unexpected turn of events, emphasizing a stronger contradiction, and is typically used in storytelling or reporting situations.

"それでも" is used when the speaker wants to make a contrast or contradiction with something previously mentioned, usually denoting a personal feeling or will that persists despite certain circumstances. On the other hand, "ところが" is used to indicate a surprising or unexpected turn of events that contrasts with previous information, often giving a feeling of surprise, disappointment, or irony.

"ところが" and "けれども" are both linking phrases used to contrast information or express surprise in Japanese. However, "ところが" is used to describe unpredicted or surprising situations that are opposite to what was expected, while "けれども" is used in a more straightforward manner to contrast with the previous statement or to express a concession. Though both can be roughly translated to "however" or "but" in English, "けれども" is more formal and can be used to start a sentence, whereas "ところが" typically cannot.

"ところが" and "けど・だけど" are both conjunctions used to express contrast or contradiction. The main difference lies in their nuances. "ところが" is mostly used when something unexpected occurs, it emphasizes the contrast between what is expected and the reality. On the other hand, "けど・だけど" simply expresses a contradiction or provides a reason, it does not necessarily express something unexpected or surprising unlike "ところが".