How to Say ‘But...’ in Japanese
のですが
no desu ga
[no dess gah]
💬 Usage Tip: [のですが] often softens what you say and signals "so..." or "I was hoping..." more than a literal [but]. You'll hear it when making requests: [予約したいのですが] sounds gentler than stopping at [予約したいです].
Phrase Breakdown
の
no
[no]
...but; ...and
A soft explanatory connector used before a request or question to sound more polite and indirect.
予約したいのですが、空席はありますか。
I would like to make a reservation, but do you have any open seats?
です
desu
[dess]
is; am; are
Polite copula used to make statements polite; here it helps form a polite explanatory expression.
おすすめは季節のコースです。
The recommendation is the seasonal course.
が
ga
[gah]
but
A conjunction particle that softens what comes next; often used politely before asking for help or information.
聞きたいことがあるが、今よろしいですか。
I have something I want to ask, but is now a good time?
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