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Grammar JLPT Level N4 - Lesson 23

Structure of んだけど:

Phrase (A) + のだ(1) + (2) + Phrase (B)

(1) んだ
(2) けれどもけれどけどもけど

Details about んだけど:

んだけど is an expression that combines んだ (explaining/giving cause), with けど (but). Together they translate simply as 'but...', although the nuance is actually closer to 'but with (A) as the reason… (B)', while (B) is sometimes left unsaid. This implies that the speaker is looking for a reply, or does not want to say the (B) part of the sentence out of politeness/awkwardness.
  • (たす)んだけど一人(ひとり)できるから(かえ)てもいい
    I feel like you are being helpful, but I can handle it by myself, so you can go home.
  • (わたし)明日(あした)()()のですが先輩(せんぱい)()ませんか
    I am going to go fishing tomorrow, but senpai, do you also want to go?
  • (あたら)パソコン()たいのだけど...どれ()ばいい()からない
    I want to buy a new computer, but… I don't know which one to buy.
There are several different forms of this construction that are mostly interchangeable with each other. From most casual, to most formal, they are as follows:
んだけどんだけれどんだけれどもんだがんですが
may be replaced with in any of the above expressions. However, it will again make it slightly more formal.
んだけど

Usage Notes for んだけど:

んだが, or simply だが is probably the 'strongest' out of these possibilities, and is considered quite masculine. If you are going to use this form, we recommend making sure that your tone is a bit softer, so that it does not sound too authoritative.

Synonyms for んだけど:

Example of んだけど

明日(あした)映画館(えいがかん)()かない?」
()きたいんだけど (明日(あした)試験(しけん)があるから()けない)。」

'Won't you go to the cinema tomorrow?'
'I'd like to go, but… (I have an exam tomorrow, so I can't).'

(あたら)しい時計(とけい)()いたいのですが (どちらいいでしょうか)。

I would like to buy a new watch, but… (which one would be good?)

昨日(きのう)告白(こくはく)どうなった?」
「こくはくしたんだけど (ふられた)。」

'How did yesterday's confession go?'
'I confessed but… (I was rejected).'

(まど)()いているからちょっと(さむ)んですが (どう(まど)()めていただけませんか?)。

Since the window is open, it is a bit cold (and…) (I wonder if you wouldn't mind closing it?).

あの(おとこ)(かお)いい。」
(かお)いいんだけど (なんか性格(せいかく)わるそう)。」

'That guy, he has nice features, don't you think?'
'He has nice features, but… (It seems that he has a bad personality).'

Grammar same lesson

必要(ひつよう)がある

It is necessary to
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例(たと)えば

For example
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If, When, Whenever, And, [Conditional]
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筈(はず)がない

Hardly possible, Cannot be, Highly unlikely, Improbable
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しか~ない

There's only, Nothing but
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