JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N5 grammar · Chapter 13

しかし

But: the written and formal version

You’ll be able to open a contrasting sentence in writing, in the news, and in formal speech.

Illustration of the scene described by Yesterday was hot. However, today is cold.
Read it first

昨日きのうは暑あつかったです。しかし、今日きょうは寒さむいです。

kinou wa atsukatta desu. shikashi, kyou wa samui desu.

What do you think this sentence means?

Yesterday was hot. However, today is cold.

Why it means that

Start a sentence with a formal “but”

しかし begins a new sentence and contrasts it with the one before, exactly like でも. What separates them is register: しかし belongs to writing, news, and formal speech, while でも belongs to conversation.

It stands at the head of the sentence and is followed by a comma. Between friends it sounds stiff, so keep it for reports, articles, and careful speech.

Example

この本ほんは高たかいです。しかし、面白おもしろいです。

kono hon wa takai desu. shikashi, omoshiroi desu.

This book is expensive. However, it is interesting.

How it is built

Sentence. しかし, sentence

Finish the first sentence, then open the contrasting one with しかし and a comma.

Sentence+しかし+Sentence
Examples

この店みせは安やすいです。しかし、遠とおいです。

kono mise wa yasui desu. shikashi, tooi desu.

This shop is cheap. However, it is far.

たくさん勉強べんきょうしました。しかし、まだ下手へたです。

takusan benkyou shimashita. shikashi, mada heta desu.

I studied a lot. However, I am still bad at it.

この問題もんだいは簡単かんたんです。しかし、時間じかんがありません。

kono mondai wa kantan desu. shikashi, jikan ga arimasen.

This question is easy. However, there is no time.

Compare

でも vs しかし

Both open a new sentence with “but,” and either one can stand in the same place. でも is the everyday choice you say out loud; しかし is the one you write down.

  • しかし, writing and formal speech

    この店みせは安やすいです。しかし、遠とおいです。

    kono mise wa yasui desu. shikashi, tooi desu.

    This shop is cheap. However, it is far.

    How a review or a report would put it.

  • でも, conversation

    この店みせは安やすいです。でも、遠とおいです。

    kono mise wa yasui desu. demo, tooi desu.

    This shop is cheap. But it is far.

    How you would say it to a friend.

Examples

このかばんは安いやすいです。しかし、少しすこし重いおもいです。

kono kaban wa yasui desu. shikashi, sukoshi omoi desu.

This bag is cheap. However, it is a little heavy.

今日きょうは日曜日にちようびです。しかし、父ちちは仕事しごとです。

kyou wa nichiyoubi desu. shikashi, chichi wa shigoto desu.

Today is Sunday. However, my father has work.

この部屋へやは小さいちいさいです。しかし、明るいあかるいです。

kono heya wa chiisai desu. shikashi, akarui desu.

This room is small. However, it is bright.

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