んだ (~n da), んです (~n desu) and their variants are primarily used to show emphasis and provide information, but there’s no true English equivalent. Basically, they’re two pieces of Japanese you’ve most likely come across: ん and です. Put them together and you get んです, the ubiquitous expression thaheret’s really hard to translate — but is fairly pretty simple to use. But what does it mean? In a word: nothing. In other words: is.  And when can this grammar point be used? Now, that’s the more important question. Read on to find out the answer. 

Contents

• How to Make んです
• Uses of んです
• Emphasizing (feelings)
• Seeking explanation
• Giving explanation
• Interpreting what someone says
• Making request/before making a request
• Conclusion

1. How to Make んです

With this grammar point, plain and short forms are your friends. んだ is made out of the particle の, which is a nominalizer, and です and だ. You should use “desu” if you want to make your sentence more formal as “da” is usually used in casual setting.

Tense	Example	Modification
Present tense verb	行くんです	Verb + んです
Past tense verb	行ったんです	Verb ~た + んです
I-adjectives	安いんです	Plain adjective + んです
I-adjectives (past)	安かったんです	Past adjective + んです
Noun	豚なんです	Noun + なんです
Noun (past)	豚だったんです	Noun + だったんです
Na adjectives	きれいなんです	Na adjective ＋なんです
Na adjectives (past)	豚だったんです	Na adjective + だったんです

んです is really a shortened form of のです. のです is more polite and formal than んです. んです, depending on the situation, does carry a certain level of formality, but のです is used in writing. At the same time, んだ is an even more casual form of んです. 

• Very casual: 行くんだ
• Somewhat casual: 行くんです 
• Formal/Written: 行くのです

Uses of んです

1. Emphasizing feelings

As mentioned earlier, んです doesn’t really mean anything. There is no one-word translation for it. It functions to color the meaning of an entire statement. One way in which it often does this is by emphasizing the feelings of the speaker. It transforms plain facts into pockets of emotion. 

For example, let’s take strawberries, which are rarely cheap in Japan. They can be pink, white, plump, and sweet, but almost never cheap. If you come across this, you can say:

昨日苺が安かったんです
Kinou ichigo ga yasukattan desu.
The strawberry yesterday was very cheap

How do you think I’m feeling? The んです tells you that you’re emphasizing the “cheapness” of strawbery. Without it, we’d have a bland, 昨日苺が安かったです.  

Another example: Your home country’s team is slated to play Japan in the FIFA World Cup. You know it’s going to be tough deciding who to cheer for. You might say to everybody who asks you about it:

難しいんですね.
Muzukashiin desu ne.
It’s tough, right.

Again, if you just say, 難しいです, it’s flat and even a little robotic, given the football fever and all, but the んです shows that you feel like you have an utter conundrum on your hands. 

2. Seeking an Explanation or Reason

One important nuance of this grammar point is that it either asks about or fills an information gap, in a complementary kind of way. It is often used in questions. The question is already a question but んです complements that by highlighting the absence of some bit of information.  

何をしていいますか。
Nani o shiteimasuka.
What are you doing?

Let’s take a look at how we use “~n desu” for this question.

何をしているんですか。
Nani o shiteirun desu ka.

Both sentences are asking the same thing: what are you doing at the moment? The second one indicates more that there is an information gap, something the speaker doesn’t know. In addition, using んです adds a more conversational tone. 

For example, you’re visiting a friend’s house. You see them crouching down suddenly. There’s an information gap present: you see something weird and random that you don’t know. The question, “What are you doing?” helps them fill in this blank for you.

どうして日本に来ましたか。
Doushite nihon ni kimashitka

どうして日本に来たんですか。
Doushite nihon ni kita ndesuka

You’ve either gotten this question a lot or will, once you’ve cleared security. The first is quite straightforward, and it is quite possible that the question will be put to you this way. But the second is sprinkled with a bit more 知りたいsauce. 

3. Giving information/explanation

This use is also tied to the information gap nuance of this grammar point. In the same way that んです is used in asking questions, it is used in the responses, or in statements providing some information previously unknown to the listener. 

Without んだ, your sentence conveys a piece of information at face value, which can sound like a random statement. んだ, on the other hand, creates a smooth flow by making it clear that you are explaining something. For example:

何をしているんですか。
Nani wo shiteirun desuka?
What are you doing?

「んです」の使い方を勉強しているんですよ。
Ndesu no tsukaikata wo benkyoushiteirun desu yo.
I’m studying the “n desu”.

Let’s take a look at other examples. This form is also used to provide an explanation in situations where someone might be surprised by something that happens or something that another person says or does. 

Q: どうして日本に来たんですか。
Doushite nihon ni kitan desu ka?
Why did you come to Japan?

A: おいしいお寿司を食べたかったんです。
Oishii osushi o tabetakattan desu.
I wanted to eat sushi.

Let’s say while working as an English teacher, you offer to help with the judo club. The teacher in charge gives you a look loaded with at least a million question marks. You quickly explain yourself.

実は、10年前から柔道をやっているんです。
Jitsu wa juunenmaekara juudou o yatteiru ndesu.
Actually, I’ve been practicing judo for ten years.

Relieved, the teacher says:

なるほど、10年前から柔道をやっているんですね。
Naru hodo, juunen mae kara juudou o yatte irun desu ne.
Oh, I see, you’ve been practicing judo for ten years.

This brings us to the next use of this grammar point. 

4. Interpreting or confirming what someone says

As seen in the judo example above, one way of using んです to interpret or confirm is just to repeat what the other person says. This can also be done by paraphrasing what the person says. 

Example

Let’s say you go out in a T-shirt one day in winter. Your friend might immediately be perplexed by this fashion choice. 

A: どうしてTシャツ着ているんですか.
Doushite T shatsu kiteirun desuka.
Why are you wearing a T-shirt?

B: 暑いんですよ.
Atsuin desu yo.
It’s hot.

A: へえ、さむくないんですね。   
Hee, samukunain desu ne.
I see, you’re not cold!

5. Making requests

As it is a semi-casual, semi-polite form, んです can be used when making a variety of requests. This includes anything from asking your coworker for a favor to making doctor’s appointments. Basically, you can use んだ as a way of starting a conversation by sharing the context first.

この資料を確認してほしいんですが.
Kono shiryou o kakunin shite hoshiin desuga.
I want to confirm these documents.

予約がしたいんですが.
Yoyaku ga shitain desu ga.
I want to make a reservation.

As you can see, both statements end in んですが. It is common for sentences making requests to end in が.

This form is also used to make requests in a more indirect way. Let’s say you are at work again, and you want your worker to check a presentation you’ve prepared. You might say: 

あの、プレゼンを作ってみたんですが。
Ano, purezen wo tsukutte mitan desuga.

From this statement alone your colleague will know that you are asking them to check it or look it over for you. You may or may not follow this up with a direct request sentence. 

Conclusion

To recap, usingんです is a quick way to make your Japanese sound more natural. You can add it to the plain and short form or verbs and i-adjectives. With nouns and na-adjectives, you need to add なbefore んです. This Japanese grammar point can be used to emphasize feelings, seek information, give reasons, interpret what someone says or make requests.

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Contact us for more information and make sure to follow our blog for more insight into the Japanese language, culture and society.

Read more about our JLPT grammar guides!

• JLPT N3 Grammar – わりに (How to say “Considering…” in Japanese)
• JLPT N3 Grammar: 〜切るKiru (How to Say “To Do Completely” in Japanese)
• JLPT N4 Grammar: 〜ましょうか (How to say “Shall I…” in Japanese)
• How to Compare Something in Japanese: JLPT N3 Grammar に比べて (Ni Kurabete)

Are there any similar grammar points to んです?

In terms of giving an explanation or a reason for something, this grammar point is similar
to から. But in sentences using んです, there’s no need to includeから, and vice versa.
Example: A:どうしてTシャツ着ているんですか。B:暑いからです。

What level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test is んです?

This is N4/N5 grammar. Still, it might take a fair amount of practice and exposure to
natural Japanese to pick up on the nuances of this grammar point. It might take a bit more
to start using it yourself.

What is the level of formality of the Japanese grammar んです?

This is kind of semi-polite. It can be used verbally in a range of situations or in casual
written communication. In writing, のです is used.

Where can examples of this grammar point be found?

Because this is so conversational, pop culture is a good place. For example, there’s a line
in this Hikaru Utada song that uses んです. Try to she see if you can find the line, and
pinpoint the nuance.

Duolingo is the go-to app for many language learners. Whether you’re a polyglot, an enthusiast or a dabbler, Duolingo promises fun-filled and effective language teaching. Their platform, as championed by their famous green owl, may be super-well known but does it actually work? Especially when it comes to a language like Japanese? 

A key pillar of learning Japanese and, unfortunately, often the biggest pain for beginners is ひらがな (hiragana), the most basic script or alphabet. Simply getting your head around all these unfamiliar shapes and lines can be difficult, let alone learning and recognizing them. So when Duolingo offers an easy way to master hiragana, why wouldn’t you take them up on it? We’ll break down the ins and outs of learning hiragana with Duolingo so you can decide whether it’s the app for you. Here is our our in-depth Duolingo Japanese review.

Jump to:

• What is Duolingo? 
• How Does Duolingo Teach Japanese? 
• Duolingo’s Key Feature
• Is Duolingo a Great App to Learn Japanese? 
• Pros and Cons of Duolingo for learning Japanese 
• Alternatives to Japanese Duolingo
• Duolingo & Hiragana: Final Review 

What is Duolingo? 

If you’ve never heard of Duolingo before, don’t worry. Here’s a quick introduction to the app: Duolingo is a language-learning app (available on mobile and web) that offers users over 40 language courses. They call themselves ‘the worlds #1 way to learn a language’, guiding learners through grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and listening practice in quick repetitive lessons that are packaged in approachable and bite-sized games. 

Looking for Japanese language learning app? Check out out: Best Apps to Learn Japanese in 2022 – Teacher’s Choice

Is Duolingo free? 

Duolingo is free to download and use. The only catch is that you only get 5 ‘hearts’ a day which will limit your language-learning time on the app. Lose 5 hearts and you’re out until your hearts restore (it typically takes 5 hours to restore 1 heart). 

You can stick to the free plan if you want to. Although the app will invite you frequently to try Super Duolingo which is their premium tier. Super Duolingo provides an ad-free experience and gives you unlimited hearts. 

Is Duolingo only for beginners? 

Definitely not! Duolingo caters to all levels of language learners. If you have studied at school or have completed some self-study, you can take a placement test to ensure you start at the right point. 

How Does Duolingo Teach Japanese? 

Duolingo approaches language learning in bite-sized sections that are organized by theme (think standard greetings, restaurant and airport). Duolingo visualizes your progress as a ‘path’ that you progress along. 

According to their website, their methodology is research-proven to encourage longterm retention rather than short-term recall. And, to their credit, an independent study found that 34 hours of Duolingo are the same as a full university semester studying a language. 

Practical learning 

Since Duolingo is geared towards ‘real-life’ use cases, you’ll pick up practical constructions and vocabulary rather than in-depth grammatical understanding. 

In fact, this lack of thorough grammatical learning is on purpose. Duolingo opts for what is known as ‘implicit learning’, which encourages you to organically identify patterns in language rather than rote-learning rules from a textbook. 

Repetition & Recall 

Duolingo uses different formatted questions to help you with vocabulary acquisition and recall. In order to ensure you pick things up properly, you’ll notice that it often repeats the same questions until you get them all right. 

This is a bit similar to Anki, which is another free, open-source flashcard app that uses spaced repetition system (SRS). Its unique learning method makes it a great tool to memorize new Japanese vocabulary. But if you are a visual learner who needs engaging graphics to learn and likes to study on the phone, Duolingo offers a way better user experience.

Duolingo hearts 

As we mentioned earlier, free users get 5 hearts per day. Duolingo says that hearts are key to balancing the pace of their lessons, but they’re also a big reason that Duolingo users upgrade to the premium version. Since you lose hearts by getting answers wrong, this feature can be quite frustrating for new learners who want to advance quickly. 

Duolingo Japanese’s Key Features 

Bite-sized Lessons

Using Duolingo, you’ll learn in bite-sized lessons. This makes the app perfect for pocket-sized studying – when you’re commuting to and from work, for example. If you want to properly dedicate yourself to studying, you’ll probably advance quickly through Duolingo’s levels – as long as you don’t lose too many hearts. 

Multi-pronged Approach 

Duolingo tries to give a comprehensive language learning experience that covers vocabulary, speaking, listening, and reading practice. 

AI-driven 

Duolingo harnesses AI algorithms to offer users a personalized learning experience. Through machine learning, the app is able to curate the pace and learning material it offers you in line with your individual level. 

Is Duolingo a Great App to Learn Japanese? 

Now that we’ve looked at Duolingo in-depth, let’s dive into their Japanese learning program. Specifically what it’s like learning Hiragana on the app. 

Hiragana on Duolingo

When you first open up your app on the ‘home’ tab, you’ll see that Hiragana is the focus of the first 2 units. 

During these first four units, you’ll learn to recognize all the characters in isolation and in words. There’s a lot of matching hiragana letters with their English pronunciation, as well as multiple-choice questions. 

Hiragana & Katakana Tab 

If you head to the tab marked with a ’あ’ at the bottom of your screen, you’l find yourself in Duolingo’s dedicated Hiragana and Katakana section. 

This section is designed to supplement Duolingo’s standard Japanese content with a focus on helping you learn to read. Here you’ll find exercises in which you trace, spell and read all the various characters. 

The app will automatically keep track of which characters you’ve mastered, which you’re still learning, and which you’ve yet to encounter. 

It’s important to note that Duolingo does not introduce the letters in ‘alphabetical’ order. For instance, the first set of ひらがな characters you’ll learn are す、し、う、and こ. 

The learning exercises are a mix of tracing the letters, listening to how they’re pronounced, matching a character to a sound and so on. These exercises will be similar to the ones you’ll do in the normal language learning tab. 

If you head to the ‘Tips’ section, you’ll find tips and tricks relating to specific sets of characters. This section gives you a more in-depth understanding of how to pronounce each character. 

Pros and Cons of Duolingo for learning Japanese 

Now that we’ve taken a look at how learning hiragana with Duolingo looks, let’s recap the main pros and cons of using the app: 

Advantages of Duolingo 

It’s a Free Learning App 

Duolingo is undeniably a great free language-learning resource. For language learners on a budget, it’s a really accessible and convenient way to learn. 

It’s Convenient 

In addition to being budget-friendly, the fact that you can pull out your phone whenever you have a spare minute is extremely convenient. 

Easy to use 

Designed to be accessible and approachable, Duolingo is really easy to use. There’s nothing intimidating about language-learning on Duolingo. 

Multi-dimensional 

Duolingo doesn’t take a one-dimensional approach to language-learning. Since it does cover the key pillars of listening, speaking, reading and vocabulary-building, it does offer a fairly comprehensive course of study. 

Fun 

The fact that Duolingo makes language-learning game-like, shouldn’t be overlooked. Though this might not be everyone’s definition of ‘fun’, it definitely helps to make studying more enjoyable. 

It builds a learning habit

Duolingo also incentivizes consistent studying by encouraging users to continue their ‘streaks’. You’ll get a notification if you haven’t completed your studying for the day and get rewarded for long-time streaks. This is great for helping you to cultivate a healthy language-study habit. A duolingo employee supposedly has maintained a 3,000 day streak – now that’s impressive. 

Disadvantages of Duolingo 

Native English speaker-oriented 

Since Duolingo is a US company, it’s not surprising that currently most of their content is geared towards native-English speakers. This is a little annoying for non-native English speakers looking to learn Japanese – though you might enjoy the added challenge. 

Note that Japanese is available for English and Chinese speakers on Duolingo. 

Not as suitable for advanced learners 

Though Duolingo says that it can cater to all different levels of learners, we think it’s best for beginners. Advanced learners may benefit from the vocabulary building aspect of the app, but will notice the absence of proper grammatical teaching and speaking practice. If you want N2 or N1-level learning materials, we recommend checking out our list of JLPT N2 textbooks for advanced learners.

No in-depth grammatical study 

If you want to learn Japanese properly, you’ll need to understand the core grammatical frameworks. This is something that Duolingo touches on, but it doesn’t really go far enough by any means. 

Lacks speaking practice 

Finally, though Duolingo does give you the opportunity to read out sentences in your target language, this is not really the same as conversing with a native speaker. 

Duolingo Alternatives to Learn Japanese 

Though Duolingo definitely has its merits, it is by no means the only option out there for Japanese language learners. Here are a few alternatives to consider:

1. Japanese Language School 

At the end of the day, mobile apps can’t replace full-immersionc ourses at a dedicated language school like Coto Academy. Whether you attend private, group or online classes you’re sure to see a well-rounded level of improvement that will stick with you for the long-run. Kick start your Japanese learning journey and check out what we’ve got on offer!

2. NHK News Easy 

NHK News Easy is a great language learning resource for anyone looking to practice their hiragana (and katakana) reading and comprehension skills. Run by Japan’s national news service, this website simplifies real news articles into accessible Japanese. This is a nice way to engage with real world affairs even if you’re still at a basic level of Japanese. 

Check out 5 other websites that helps simplify Japanese news.

3. Memrise 

Memrise is a mobile and browser-based app with a whole range of language learning courses, including Japanese. Compared to Duolingo, Memrise is weighted towards vocabulary learning. A huge plus for non-native English speakers is that Memrise offers Japanese in other languages too.

4. Picture Books or Ehon

Japanese picture books, or ehon (絵本), are great tools for kids to learn Japanese. They’re packed with the right balance of cute graphics, dialogues, Japanese sentences and an entertaining storyline. Many Japanese picture books might be perfect if you are a beginner-level Japanese learner too, because the texts uses simplified Japanese. The story can also teach you about Japanese culture and become a backdoor to understanding how Japanese society works.

5. Good old-fashioned text book 

Apps haven’t replaced text-books just yet. And when it comes to learning the basics, especially hiragana, a text book might be just what you need! Many textbooks include audio files or a CD so you can hone your pronunciation alongside copying out all the characters. 

Duolingo & Hiragana: Final Review 

And that brings us to the end of our tour of Duolingo. At the end of the day, we can’t fault the app for its user-friendly and fun features. Its content is slightly rudimentary on some levels, but that’s fine for true beginners. In terms of learning hiragana, the app will probably provide you with a good foundation if you’re able to dedicate time and effort to doing its exercises consistently. And, since it’s free to use, we really can’t fault it as an accessible Japanese language learning resource. 

Download Duolingo from the App Store and Google Play.

The conjunctive particle けど is interchangeable with the particle が and has a similar meaning to the English word “but”, “even though” or “although”. Basically, it’s used to connect two clauses that are contradictory. For example:

ケーキがいいけど、お腹がいっぱいだった。
Keeki ga ii kedo, onaka ga ippai datta.
A cake sounds good, but my stomach is full.

However, unlike the English language’s “but”, the word けど can be put at the end of the sentence. You’ll usually hear this in real-life conversations with a Japanese speaker. Take a look at the scenario below, where someone is trying to make a reservation at a restaurant. 

予約したいけど…
Yoyaku shitai kedo… 

If we translate this literally, that person is saying, “I want to make a reservation, but…” In English, is an incomplete sentence and literally goes against one of the basic rules of conjunctions. After all, their purpose is to join two phrases, not to end one. The basic Japanese sentence pattern has an order which informs the relationship between certain words, too.

So why do Japanese people like to end their sentences with けど, even when it’s grammatically wrong? The reason is simple: けど is also used in social situations and a variety of colloquial contexts.

At this point, you might even feel more baffled, but we’ll get to the bottom of this conundrum. In this article, we’ll discuss all the social, unwritten uses of けど, including its variation.

Jump to:
The Basics of が and けど: “But”
Variations of けど
Using が and けど to Give Context and Bring Up a Topic
Using が and けど At the End of a Sentence 
1. けど makes a sentence sound softer and less confrontational
2. けど expresses emotions and uncertainty
3. けど to subtly express criticism or say no
4. けど to emphasize or make a point 
5. けど to ask a favor, request permission or invitation
Here’s The Conclusion, But…

The Basics of が and けど: “But”

Let’s start off by learning the difference between が and けど. In terms of usage, が and けど work in pretty much the same way, but the difference is that が feels more formal, while けど feels more colloquial.  With that said, that doesn’t necessarily mean けど (and its variations) is super-casual. Sometimes, when you’re talking to Japanese customer service, you’ll hear them slip off using けど — but that doesn’t mean they’re being impolite.

Basically,  が is more formal, yes, but the biggest difference is that it’s used for writing, while けど is used more in conversations. When you use が as conjunction, you have to consistently use polite forms, like です and ます. This isn’t always the case for けど.

先週は暇でしたが、今週は忙しそうです。
Senshuu wa hima deshita ga, konshuu wa isogashisou desu.
Last week wasn’t busy, but it seems to be this week. 

先週は暇だったけど、今週は忙しそうだ。
Senshuu wa hima datta kedo, konshuu wa isogashisou da.

The two sentences above show that when you replace が with けど, you will not change the meaning. However, you will shift the nuance of the conversation, with the latter sounding more casual. 

Let’s move on to other basic examples for けど as “but”. 

吉田さんは美人だけど、私のタイプじゃない。
Yoshida-san wa bijin da kedo, watashi no taipu ja nai.
Yoshida-san is a pretty woman, but she’s not my type. 

このカレーはちょっと辛いけど、美味しいよ！
Kono karee wa chotto karai kedo, oishii yo!
This curry is a bit spicy, but it’s delicious!

When we say that けど is used to show contrast, we don’t just mean literal antonyms of action or description: pretty and ugly; boring and busy; spicy and sweet. For example, when you invite your friends over to your house — which you haven’t cleaned in a month. けど can be used to highlight contrasting ideas: My house is dirty, (but) please come in. 

散らかっているけど、どうぞ、入って。
Chirakatte iru kedo, douzo, haitte.
It is messy but please come in. 

Variations of けど

In conversations, you’ve probably heard けど (kedo) the most, but there are other variations to this. All of けれども, けれど, けども, けど are used and retain the same meaning. 

けど is the short form of けれども, which could be written け(れ)ど(も). The ど or ども part in this expression is the part that expresses the contradiction (“but” or “however”).

けど is the most casual because it’s the shortest form. Think of it as being “too lazy” to say the full conjugation that you have to cut a few characters.  The shortening is analogous to contractions in English, like “can’t” and “cannot” — the first being more casual. As such, this changes the formality and politeness of the expression.

けども, on the other hand, is often used in a half-formal, half-informal setting. It is more refined than けど, but not quite as stiff as けれども.

The politeness of けれども gradually degrades in the following order from more to least polite: けれども → けれど → けども → けど

Using が and けど to Give Context and Bring Up a Topic

Unlike the English “but”, both が and けど have a more versatile, colloquial use. When you’re around the intermediate level and have decent opportunities to speak Japanese in real life, you’ll naturally adopt the habit of using けど in the middle of the sentence, even if you’re not trying to say “but”. 

Why? Because in addition to connecting contrasting ideas, が and けど are often used to add context to what you’re about to say.

For example, you bought a bus ticket to go to the airport. Just when you’re about to give the driver your ticket, you realized that you had actually lost it. In this case, you don’t know what to do and wanted to ask them, “What should I do?” You might say:

チケット無くしてしまったけど、どうしたらいいですか？
Chiketto nakushie shimatta kedo, dou shitara ii desu ka?

This sentence would sound weird if you translate it the same way we translated our previous examples: “I lost my ticket, but what should I do?” In English, the more appropriate conjunction would be “so” or “and”.

So why do Japanese people still use けど? It’s important to remember that Japanese society adopts high-context communication. People communicate based on an inherent understanding of what the speaker says, even if they’re not talking explicitly. The US, on the other hand, is considered a low-context culture, relying largely on direct verbal explanations to keep everyone on the same page.

In other words, Japanese people avoid talking straight to the point or asking outright as a thoughtful gesture. It’s considered polite, especially if you’re in the position of asking a favor. 

So in this situation, you don’t want to sound too straightforward asking, “What do I need to do if I lost my ticket?” Instead, you’re hinting at the context before your question or making an introductory remark about something: “I lost my ticket…. (but can you help me?)”

Think of けど in this case as “regarding~” or “as for~” to better understand it. 

明日なんだけど、一緒に行きましょうか？
Ashita nan desu kedo, issho ni ikimashouka?
As for tomorrow, should we go together?

母の誕生日のことなんだけど、ケーキもう買ったの？
Haha no tanjoubi no koto nan da kedo, keeki mou katta no?
As for Mom’s birthday, have you bought the cake?

Using が and けど At the End of a Sentence 

Remember the high-context communication in the Japanese culture we mentioned before? Japanese people tend to avoid straight expressions and leave a sentence unfinished on purpose. 

This is why you’ll see a lot of Japanese speakers finish a sentence with a けど even though it can’t technically stand alone. Using が or けど at the end of a sentence gives the listener flexibility to respond in a way that’s convenient for them, or make what you’ve said sound like an afterthought, sounding less confrontational, and expressing uncertainty. The listeners should read between the lines — and take a hint. 

Of course, this means there’s no one way to use けど at the end of a sentence. While the easiest answer to why people like to use けど is because “it sounds more polite”, knowing the right social context to use it is important. After all, you can’t say kedo at the end of every sentence (unless you’re trying to act kawaii). Take a look at some common ways to leave a sentence unfinished with けど on purpose. 

Note: Even though the focus of this article was on けど, anything you learned in this article also applies to が. 

1. けど makes a sentence sound softer and less confrontational

The first function of けど — and probably its most important feature — is its softening effect. Using kedo (or ga) at the end of the sentence gives listeners a hint about what you want to say without being explicit. 

For example, when you see a call from an unknown number, you will socially distance yourself from the caller. In Japanese, the further your relationship with someone is, the more you will use polite forms. In this case, you can use けど to sound less confrontational. (Who knows saying this is me can be too straightforward?)

はい、コトですけど。どちら様ですか？
Hai, koto desu kedo. Dochira sama desu ka?
Yes, this is Coto. Who am I speaking to?

Another example is when you’re going to a fancy restaurant that you’ve made reservations at. Upon entering, a hostess might greet you with something like this:

いらっしゃいませ。ご予約ございますか？
Irasshaimase. Goyoyaku gozaimasuka?
Welcome. Do you have a reservation?

今日の６時に予約した田中ですけど。
Kyou no rokuji ni yoyaku shita tanaka desu kedo.
I have a reservation at 6 under the name Tanaka. 

2. けど expresses emotions and uncertainty

けど at the end of a sentence gives off a softer nuance because it’s as if you’re uncertain about something and, therefore, less confrontational — something that is considered polite. However, there would be cases where you are actually uncertain about something. This lack of confidence can be expressed by saying kedo at the end. Think of it as “but I’m not sure” in English. 

Bu doing this, you’re distancing yourself from the source of information — or even downplaying it. Unless you are genuinely unsure about something that you’re required to know, don’t use this. 

For example, you’re having a high school reunion, and one of your former classmates ask what time is the event. You only read the invite once, and although you think it’s at 6 pm, you don’t want to bear the responsibility of giving inaccurate information. You can say:

６時だと思うんですけど…
Rokuji da to omoun desu kedo…
I think it’s at 6 pm, but (I’m not sure). 

When you’re unsure, you can also use Japanese filler words like ano and eto to converse less awkwardly without abrupt pauses.

3. けど to subtly express criticism or say no

As said, けど gives the listener the flexibility to respond and interpret the message. Japanese people tend to be indirect making disagreements and criticism or giving rejections. Social cues like saying けど can help you understand what they’re trying to say. 

For example:

テーブルが汚いんだけど。
Teiburu ga kitanainda kedo.
The table is dirty, you know.

Here, it’s clear the speaker is hinting that, because the table is dirty, you should clean it. By adding the kedo, it helps to make the complaint less aggressive: “The table is dirty, but…”

So how do you subtly say “no” with けど? Say you’re in a fast food restaurant where you usually like to eat in person. However, the restaurant has a policy of prohibiting eat-ins after a certain time — something you didn’t know about. You go about the usual order and mention, “イートインでお願いします (eat in, please).”

At this, the staff might say:

お客様、申し訳ありませんが、２０時以下 イートインができますけど…
Okyakusama, moushi wake arimasen ga, nijuuji ika iitoin ga dekimasu kedo,..
Customer, I’m so sorry, eat in is available before 8 pm, but… (you can’t now). 

A colleague might also invite you for a nomikai (飲み会), or a drinking party, after work, but truthfully, you don’t want to. This is when けど comes in handy in finessing the tricky situation.

本当に行きたいけど…
Hontou ni ikitai kedo…
I really want to go but (I can’t)…

Leaving your answer a bit open-ended gives the listener the opportunity to take a hint. By not refusing outright, you avoid sounding abrupt; you’re not saying you can’t go, but you’re not saying you can either. 

4. けど to emphasize or make a point 

Remember the first use of kedo as a “copula” to make to avoid something confrontational? What happens when you have a conflicting opinion and want to make a point? While it’s normal to say “I don’t agree with you” in most cultures, Japanese society are typically conformist. In other words, when you do want to emphasize something, you still try to leave things as vague as possible. You do this by adding something like, “… but yeah.”

Keep in mind that even when you use けど to make a point, the intonation is still strong. When you use this to make a point, you’re basically saying, “… you know?”

For example, you’re training for a sports competition, but your performance doesn’t match your coach’s expectations. They constantly criticize you and say that you should work harder. 

もっと頑張ってください！
Motto ganbatte kudasai!
Please work harder!

Annoyed, you finally snap. 

私だってがんばっているんですけど。
Watashi datte ganbatte irun desu kedo.
I am doing my very best, you know. 

On another day, you are talking to your friend who rants about how dogs are smarter than cat. He says:

猫より犬頭いいでしょう？
Neko yori inu atama ii deshou?*
Dogs are smarter than cat, right?

Disagreeing, you can say:

そう 思おもわないけど…
Sou omowanai kedo…
I don’t think so, but…. 

The けど here is used to acknowledge their opinion, like saying, “but yeah, sure,” while at the same time making a point that you don’t necessarily agree. In the end, you make your statement less argumentative. 

Speaking of argumentative, let’s compare two sentences. 

そんなことどうでもいい。
Sonna koto doudemo ii.
I don’t care. 

そんなことどうでもいいんだけど。
Sonna koto doudemo iin da kedo.
I don’t care, but… 

In both statements, you’re basically saying, “I don’t care.” The second sentence, however, sounds softer because you’re giving more flexibility to the listener to interpret your point. 

*Note: Wonder why we’re omitting the particle は and が? Head here for the answer: When can you skip Wa, O, Ga, E in Japanese?

5. けど to ask a favor, request permission or invitation

Finally, the last function of けど that’s particularly important for someone who doesn’t like to take a hint. Because putting けど at the end of a sentence opens up the possibility for listeners to respond however they want (or however they need to), this is used for people to ask someone a favor, permission or invitation in a subtle way. 

For example, you’re hanging out in a restaurant despite the fact that it’s well past the shop’s closing hour. In the spirit of omotenashi service, the staff is less likely to tell you, “Please leave.”

Instead, they may hint that you need to leave by saying:

すみません。もう閉店時間なんですけど….
Sumimasen. Mou heiten jikan nan desu kedo…
Excuse me. I’m sorry but it is already closing time, but…

The “but” here is supposedly followers by an indirect, somewhat polite request: “But would you leave now?”

In another instance, your friend visited you when you were sick and bedridden. You’re feeling a bit chilly, and you want to ask your friend to turn up the air conditioner. You can say:

ちょっと寒いんだけど。
Chotto samuin da kedo.
It’s a bit cold.. (so would you turn the heat up?)

By making this sentence grammatically incomplete, it allows you to be vague so listeners can respond without feeling pushed. 

For example, you’re buying three pieces of bread from a display in a bakery. 

塩パン３つ、欲しいんですけど…
Shiopan mittsu, hoshiin desu kedo…
I would like three salt bread…

In this case, by pausing at けど, you’re not specifying what you’re asking for, allowing the baker to interpret your “request”. In other words, you’re giving the staff the flexibility to decide their response: whether or not the bread is on sale, if there are three pieces of bread, or if you can buy all of them.  

In response to this, the baker has the freedom to choose their next answer. They can say, “かしこまりました！ (Understood)” or ask, “以上でよろしいですか？ (Is that all?)” 

Check out: Why Ha (は) Is Pronounced as Wa (わ)

Here’s The Conclusion, But…

Remember that が works almost the same as けど, even though it’s more formal. You can put them at the end of sentences to sound less confrontational. The use of けど is sort of a safety net when communicating in Japanese. In a culture where taking hints and social cues are valued, you might want to avoid talking too directly to sound more polite. 

Keep in mind that although が and けど can be applied in many situations, you still want to use them sparingly. Otherwise, you’ll sound too indecisive — a common Japanese language mistake learners often overlook. 

How do you use けど or だけど (Kedo or dakedo) in Japanese?

けど (kedo) and its variations can be a formal and casual way to say “but” or “however” in Japanese. It’s used in the middle, but when put at the end of the sentence, it can soften the message and give room for the listener to interpret what you say.

What is the difference between けど (Kedo) and が (Ga)?

けれども (keredomo) and が (ga) are both “paradoxical conjunction.” It connects sentences with the meaning of “but.” けど (kedo) is a more casual version of けれども (keredomo). が (ga) has a more formal nuance and is usually found in written Japanese.

What is the difference between けれども (keredomo), けれど (keredo), けども (kedomo), けど (kedo)?

けれども (keredomo), けれど (keredo), けども (kedomo), けど (kedo) are used and retain the same meaning and use: to subtly ask for a favor, sound more polite and contradict the previous phrase. The politeness of けれども gradually degrades in the following order from more to least polite: けれども → けれど → けども → けど.

Can けど (Kedo) and が (Ga) used at the end of a sentence?

In spoken Japanese, using が or けど at the end of a sentence gives the listener flexibility to respond in a way that’s convenient for them, or make what you’ve said sound like an afterthought, sounding less confrontational, and expressing uncertainty.

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What’s next after completing JLPT N5? If you want to continue brushing up on your Japanese language skills, it is now time to take and pass the JLPT N4. Of course, it’s best when they have handy resources that can help improve their learning. Read on to learn more about our JLPT N4 textbooks recommendations. 

While finding JLPT learning resources is great for self-learning, we also recommend finding the right support from a professional instructor. We offer online JLPT self-study courses for motivated individuals to help them pass the exam. By subscribing at 900 JPY a month (around 8 USD), you’ll get full access to all our JLPT self-study bundles.

We also have separate posts on JLPT N3 textbooks and JLPT N5 textbooks recommendations.

Textbooks

Nihongo Fun and Easy 

Nihongo Fun and Easy are suitable for beginners, even those with no prior knowledge of Japanese knowledge. It allows you to learn natural-sounding, essential Japanese by only including phrases that are used by native speakers. With this book, English translations and romaji are provided, so you don’t need to study hiragana and katakana in advance. For those who are auditory learners, an audio CD for learning conversational dialogues will be provided in both English and Japanese.

The book currently has two volumes:

• Nihongo Fun & Easy: Survival Japanese Conversation for Beginners 
• Nihongo Fun & Easy 2: Basic Grammar for Conversation for Beginners

Price: ¥2,743 (you can save 10% if you order both together)
Click here to purchase!

Genki II

Genki is a very popular Japanese textbook series, used commonly by beginners trying to learn Japanese. After completing Genki Volume Two, your Japanese language abilities will be at N4 level. The textbook was first released in 1999 and is currently updated to the third edition. It focuses a lot on conversation and grammar with corresponding reading and writing exercises for every chapter. This book is recommended for those learning under supervision or in a group environment. While it’s not the number one choice for self-learners, it’s been trusted by a lot of Japanese teachers and language schools in Japan.

Price: ¥3,960
Click here to purchase!

Kanji Learner’s Course Graded Reading Sets, Vol 3: Kanji 201-400

Following the character sequence of Kodansha’s widely acclaimed Kanji Learner’s Course (KLC), this is a must-have for everyone. With over 30,000 reading exercises, this volume consists of 2,071 exercises with 11,800 kanji. The kanji in this book have all been previously introduced in the beginner kanji books and help with reading kanji and understanding kanji-based vocabulary and grammatical concepts. If you have a kindle, feel free to purchase their kindle version to access the built-in J-E dictionary. 

Price: Kindle (Digital) ¥699 | Paperback ¥1,539
Click here to purchase!

A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar 

If you want to brush up on your Japanese grammar, this book is the perfect choice for you. There are in-depth English and Japanese explanations for the grammatical concepts. Around 200 concepts that are the foundation of the language can be found here. This book covers almost everything there is to know about every single grammatical point and includes thorough explanations of common pitfalls to avoid. There are also versions of this book for basic and advanced level students, a must-have for students and teachers.

Price: ¥5,758 JPY
Click here to purchase!

Want to learn JLPT N4 grammar in a more interactive course? Join our N4 grammar course that comes with 67 quizzes and 68 lessons and our JLPT N4 grammar PDF workbook. The course is on sale for a limited time, with price cut from ¥2,000 to ¥1,000!

Minna no Nihongo Shokyu 2 Honsatsu 

Minna no Nihongo is a popular textbook used both in classrooms and by individuals. It includes essential grammar, vocabulary, listening and speaking skills that can help students vastly improve their communication skills in Japanese. Shokyuu 2 is perfect for those who are trying to improve their Japanese from the upper-beginner level. This is the second edition of Shokyuu 2 where the vocabulary and conversational settings have been updated with new frequently used expressions. The book now comes with a CD and an increase in illustrations for reviewing.

Price: ¥3,780 JPY
Click here to purchase!

Try! Japanese Language Proficiency Test N4

You’ll hone your grammar skills and learn about grammar strategies and practice reading comprehension. All the mock test chapters are formated similarly to the real JLPT. This book breaks down the learning process of grammar into three steps. You’ll learn how Japanese grammar is used in real-life communication, practice fundamentals and apply grammar points in questions involving listening and reading Japanese. The book includes an audio CD for listening exercises and an answer key pamphlet for all review questions and their practice test.

Price: ¥3,151 JPY
Click here to purchase!

New Kanzen Master JLPT N4: Vocabulary 

The latest addition to the Kanzen Master Series is the JLPT N4 Vocabulary version. The book consists of two sections, Jitsuryoku Yoseihen (practical training) and Mogi Shiken (mock test). In the first section, vocabulary is studied in terms of themes and situations, followed by in terms of parts of speech and usage. You will be able to test your knowledge with the basic exercise and practical exercise section that is in the same format as JLPT examinations. Their N4 textbooks also includes Grammar, Listening Comprehension, Reading Comprehension and Kanji.

Price: ¥2,233 JPY
Click here to purchase!

1500 Essential Vocabulary for the JLPT N4

To pass the N4, you will need to know about 1,500 vocabulary words, which makes this book the right length for test-takers. In fact, it’s the most popular choice for learners who want to focus on vocabulary; all the words are commonly found and tested on the JLPT. The textbook comes with English and Vietnamese translation, too.

After you’re done memorizing, you can check the box and test your skill by covering the word with a provided red translucent sheet — the Japanese vocabulary will ‘disappear’, only allowing you to look at English translations for a ‘mini-quiz’. Words are categorized based on their contextual use. You can head over to their website to access free audio files and practice tests.

Price: ¥1,832 JPY
Click here to purchase!

Nihongo Challenge JLPT N4 

Learn about the frequently used expressions used in daily life under the N4 level. Multiple illustrations and notes are provided to learn the 600 words in this book. Review practices are in the same format as examinations to help you prepare for the JLPT. Translations can be found in English and Portuguese. If you want to learn more about Grammar, you can check out their Grammar and Reading Practice version. They also have a version for JLPT N4 and N5 Kanji combined.

Price: ¥2,062 JPY
Click here to purchase!

Kanji in Context Reference Book

The Kanji in Context is a series that is meant for intermediate and advanced learners, but it’s great to have an all-in-one textbook, even if you’re just a beginner. You’ll receive 2136 kanji and kanji-based vocabulary that is essential for advanced Japanese communication. They have multiple indexes consisting of on-kun, form, stroke and vocabulary. Each kanji has 3-6 useful vocabulary words to learn and reading guides. In this series, they also have Workbook Volume 1 and Workbook Volume 2. Save 10% when you order the full set in a bundle.

Price: ¥4,526 JPY
Click here to purchase!

Nihongo So-matome JLPT N4: Kanji and Words 

The perfect study guide for intermediate-level Japanese students, this book is sectioned into vocabulary, kanji and reading comprehension. It is designed for students to learn 200 kanji characters and 300 vocabulary words in just six weeks. You’ll soak all study material on the left page and apply your knowledge with practice questions on the right page. Reinforce your knowledge with review tests after each section to track your progress. This book comes with English and Vietnamese translations and kanji and vocabulary indexes. They also have a copy for Reading, Grammar, and Listening. 

Price: ¥2,519 JPY
Click here to purchase!

Japanese in Mangaland 2: Basic to Intermediate Level 

If you are looking for something different, try out this textbook and learn Japanese through manga! Volume 2 helps beginners to master the basics of conversational Japanese, grammar patterns and about 360 Kanji characters. Four conversational lessons allow tourists to learn phrases useful for airports, hotels, shops and restaurants. This book also has a culture notes section, giving insight into daily life in Japan.

Price: ¥4,786
Click here to purchase!

Speak Japanese in 90 Days: A Self-study Guide to Becoming Fluent

This is volume two of Speak Japanese in 90 Days. Although they are not technically N4 textbooks, they teach students how to effectively study Japanese, giving them tips to increase fluency to intermediate and advanced levels. There are regular short reading exercises and new vocabulary lists. Aside from learning how to speak, you will also practice your grammar skills and master the fundamentals of intermediate Japanese Grammar.

Price: ¥1,869
Click here to purchase!

Japanese from Zero! 3

Using up-to-date grammar and vocabulary lessons, it features new grammar concepts with over 1,000 new words and expressions. Book 3 is suitable for beginners with basic kanji, and it is a continuation of the previous grammar chapters on Book 1 and 2. Answer key is provided at the back so students can cross-reference their answers and ensure that they are on the right track. Simple example dialogues are taught and this book includes romaji and kana. You will also learn interesting facts about Japan and its culture.

Price: ¥5,728 JPY
Click here to purchase!

Workbooks

Besides JLPT N4 textbooks, make sure to browse our top picks for workbooks. After all, the JLPT doesn’t consist of theories, but questions taken from real situations.

Marugoto Pre-intermediate A2/B1 

This is a coursebook based on the JF Standard for Japanese Language Education that teaches language and culture. You will know how to understand commonly used sentences and frequently used expressions used in daily life. Students will be able to communicate about simple and routine tasks and their personal backgrounds. Complete this coursebook and understand essential Japanese conversational skills about work, school, leisure, dreams, events and plans.

Price: ¥2,520 JPY
Click here to purchase!

JLPT N4 Official Practice Workbook Volume 2 

The JLPT N4 Official Practice Workbook allows you to practice under real exam conditions. This book is recommended for those who have already learned the necessary kanji, vocabulary and grammar needed and want to revise. The test is split into three sections, where the vocabulary and kanji section has 34 questions and is meant to be completed in 30 minutes. The grammar and reading section has 35 questions and is meant to be completed in 50 minutes. The listening section has 21 questions and is done with the included CD and illustrations, meant to be completed in 35 minutes.

Price: ¥1,604 JPY
Click here to purchase!

Not sure about your Japanese level? Take our free Japanese level assessment

What’s your Japanese learning goal and how far away are you from it? If you’re unsure where you are, we provide a free Japanese level check. 

Get in touch with us and let us know how we can help you achieve your Japanese language target.

We also provide an online JLPT prep lecture course that covers all essential grammar and vocabularies for JLPT N1, N2 and N3. The seminar-style lectures have students work individually with the lesson material while listening to the lecture on the screen. If you are interested or have any questions, contact us at info@cotoacademy.com.

Coto Japanese Academy is a unique Japanese Language School in Iidabashi Tokyo. We offer relaxed and fun conversational lessons for all levels of Japanese learners. Coto Japanese Academy prides itself on its community atmosphere and fun lessons that focus on the creation of opportunities to speak and learn Japanese. If you are interested in studying Japanese in Tokyo, please visit our contact page.

How many words and kanji do you need for JLPT N4?

You will need to know roughly 300 kanji and about 1,500 vocabulary words (200 more kanji and about 700 more vocabulary than the N5)

How many sections are there in the JLPT N4?

The test consist of 4 major sections: vocabulary & kanji, grammar, reading, and listening

Is JLPT N4 Easy?

The JLPT N4 is the second easiest difficulty for JLPT. Similar to the N5, The N4 focuses on teaching you basic understanding of Japanese that one would learn in class.

What are some resources to study for the JLPT

There are many great resources to study Japanese from traditional textbooks to mobile games. You should ultimately find a resource that best suits your needs and preference to make the most out of your learning. Do check out our article for some of the best learning resources to study Japanese.