All JLPT grammar
N5

A。でも、~B。(A. Demo, ~B)

Used to express contrast between two statements; 'A, but B', 'A, however B'.

At a glance

でも means "but" or "however". It starts a new sentence that goes against what the previous sentence led you to expect.

[Sentence A]。でも、[Sentence B]。

この部屋へやは狭せまいです。でも、きれいです。 This room is small. But it's clean.


How to form it

でも is a connector. It comes at the start of sentence B:

Position Register Example
Start of sentence B Polite speech 高たかいです。でも、おいしいです。
Start of sentence B Casual speech 高たかい。でも、おいしい。

Sentence A ends with 。 and sentence B starts with でも. A comma after でも is common.

Examples

  • 昨日きのうは寒さむかった。でも、今日きょうは暖あたたかいです。

    Yesterday was cold. But today it's warm.

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The rest of the lesson

When to use it, common mistakes, nuances and a quick check, with spaced repetition to make it stick.

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