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〜が (but)

but, and (softening)

Sentence + が, sentence

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After a whole clause, が means "but": 日本語は難しいですが、面白いです, "Japanese is hard, but it's interesting".

This isn't the subject が. You can tell them apart by what comes before: the subject が follows a noun (猫が), the "but" が follows a complete clause, usually ending in です or ます.

It also softens an opening, with no real contrast at all: すみませんが、駅はどこですか, "excuse me, (but) where's the station?"; 失礼ですが…, "pardon me, but…".

In polite speech it's the natural "but". Among friends, けど (next point) is more common.

Register: Polite and a little formal. In casual speech, けど.

Examples

  • 日本語にほんごは難むずかしいですが、面白おもしろいです。

    Japanese is hard, but it's interesting.

  • 行いきたいですが、時間じかんがありません。

    I'd like to go, but I don't have time.

  • すみませんが、駅えきはどこですか。

    Excuse me, where's the station?

  • この店みせは高たかいですが、とてもおいしいです。

    This place is expensive, but it's really good.

  • 失礼しつれいですが、お名前なまえは？

    Excuse me, may I ask your name?

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