True but

Grants their point before pushing back.

Mix-ups The trailing kedo does the disagreeing; there's no need to add demo.

sore wa sou da kedo

polite sore wa sou desu kedo

that's true, but...

Granting someone's point before giving your own view.

Often trails off after kedo, letting the tone carry the 'but'.

casual

sore wa sou da kedo, ima wa okane nai yo.

That's true, but I don't have the money right now.

それはそうだけど、今はお金ないよ。

polite

sore wa sou desu kedo, ima wa okane ga nai n desu.

That's true, but I don't have the money at the moment.

それはそうですけど、今はお金がないんです。

Written それはそうだけど · それはそうですけどWho you say it and hear itHeard 9× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles

polite kimochi wa wakarimasu kedo

I get how you feel, but...

Showing sympathy before disagreeing or giving advice.

The wa matters: you understand the feeling, not that you agree with the plan.

casual

kimochi wa wakaru kedo, ima yameru no wa mottainai yo.

I get how you feel, but quitting now would be a waste.

気持ちはわかるけど、今辞めるのはもったいないよ。

polite

kimochi wa wakarimasu kedo, ima yameru no wa mottainai desu yo.

I understand how you feel, but it'd be a shame to quit now.

気持ちはわかりますけど、今辞めるのはもったいないですよ。

Written 気持ちはわかるけど · きもちはわかるけど · 気持ちはわかりますけどWho you say it and hear itHeard 167× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles

polite sou wa ikimasen

it's not that simple; not so fast

Push back when someone suggests an easy way out or tries to get away with something.

iku here means 'go smoothly', as in umaku ikanai (it isn't going well).

casual

yasumitai kedo, sou wa ikanai n da yo.

I'd love a day off, but it's not that simple.

休みたいけど、そうはいかないんだよ。

polite

yasumitai n desu kedo, sou wa ikanai n desu yo.

I'd love a day off, but it's not that simple.

休みたいんですけど、そうはいかないんですよ。

Written そうはいかない · そうはいきませんWho you say it and hear itHeard 96× in 3.17 million lines of film and TV subtitles