んだけど・んですが (JLPT N4)

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

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.

顔(かお)はいいのだけど...性格(せいかく)は悪(わる)い。

He has a good looking face, but… his personality is bad.

Examples

--:--

「昨日(きのう)の告白(こくはく)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(むずか)しいね)。

It would be great if I could lose some weight, but… (it is hard).

新(あたら)しい時計(とけい)を買(か)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(まど)が開(あ)いているからちょっと寒(さむ)いんですが (どうか窓(まど)を閉(し)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?).

Get more example sentences!
Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.
Try Bunpro

Self-Study Sentences

Study your own way!

Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.

Try Bunpro

Online
There are no Online resources listed for 「んだけど・んですが」.
You can . Resources are constantly updated, come back later to see new additions!

Offline
There are no Offline resources listed for 「んだけど・んですが」.
You can . Resources are constantly updated, come back later to see new additions!
Track Resources!
Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.
Try Bunpro

んだけど・んですが – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (22 in total)

FredKore
It means that usually only men use that form. Imagine the ‘big boss’ stereotype – very gruff, easy to anger, laughs loud, expects obedience from everyone – for the image of “quite masculine”. I’m exaggerating, of course, but in that direction.
It only reflects on the speaker, so it wouldn’t necessarily be bad to say to a woman, just kinda rough to hear. It could be said by a woman but it’s probably very unusual. (I’m not saying anything is absolute in this day and age.)
ThiagoIanuch
I can’t understand when I should use んだけど instead of just けど, they both look the same to me
LotBlind
This part I don’t get… it has a “fun fact” about how ん (or の) may sometimes be omitted, but the example given afterwards doesn’t omit it?

Fun Fact

ん (or の) may sometimes be omitted completely, but this is not so common in modern Japanese.