〜けど
but, though
Sentence + けど, sentence
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けど is the everyday "but": 日本語は難しいけど、楽しい, "Japanese is hard, but it's fun". It follows a full clause, like the "but" が, and sounds more casual.
It also does a lot of softening. Ending a sentence with けど leaves it hanging politely: ちょっと聞きたいんだけど…, "I wanted to ask you something…", inviting the other person to respond.
After nouns and な-adjectives, the だ stays: 雨だけど.
けれど and けれども are the longer, slightly more formal versions; all are accepted here. In polite conversation けど is still fine, just a little relaxed; in formal writing, が.
Register: Casual. けれど and けれども are the fuller, slightly more careful versions.
Examples
日本語は難しいけど、楽しい。
Japanese is hard, but it's fun.
行きたいけど、お金がない。
I want to go, but I've got no money.
雨だけど、出かけよう。
It's raining, but let's go out anyway.
ちょっと聞きたいんだけど、今いい？
Can I ask you something? Have you got a minute?
昨日電話したけど、出なかったね。
I called yesterday, but you didn't pick up.