GRAMMAR DETAIL

でも

but · however

Conversationally links a statement to something contrary to it or different from what might be expected.

Examples

雨が降っています。でも、散歩に行きます。

It is raining. But I am going for a walk.

忙しいです。でも、週末には休めます。

I am busy. But I can rest on the weekend.

道は混んでいます。でも、時間には間に合いました。

The roads were congested. But I arrived on time.

Structure: This connector starts the next statement with でも after the preceding sentence has ended.
Basic usage: In conversation, it adds a contrast or something contrary to expectation.
- 雨が降っています。でも、散歩に行きます。 contrasts the rain with going for a walk despite it.

Position compared with けど
- 忙しいけど attaches to the preceding clause, while 忙しいです。でも finishes a sentence before connecting the next. They are not interchangeable in the same position without adjustment.
Contrast rather than reason
- だから links a reason to a result, whereas でも connects information such as an unexpected fact. The rain is not being presented as the cause of the walk.
A different use of でも
- In お茶でも飲みませんか, でも presents tea as an example of something to have. Distinguish this from the sentence-initial contrast described here.