N2 — outside your level filter

だが

だがdagaN2formal

but; and yet — the plain-style written "however"

何度なんども彼かれに電話でんわをかけた。だが、一度いちども出でなかった。

nando mo kare ni denwa o kaketa. daga, ichido mo denakatta.

I called him again and again. But he never once picked up. neutral

計画けいかくそのものは悪わるくない。だが、今いまの予算よさんでは実現じつげんできない。

keikaku sonomono wa warukunai. daga, ima no yosan de wa jitsugen dekinai.

The plan itself isn't bad. Yet with the budget as it stands it can't be carried out. neutral

All examples3

but; and yet — sets the following sentence against the one just closed

  1. 何度なんども彼かれに電話でんわをかけた。だが、一度いちども出でなかった。

    nando mo kare ni denwa o kaketa. daga, ichido mo denakatta.

    I called him again and again. But he never once picked up. neutral

  2. 計画けいかくそのものは悪わるくない。だが、今いまの予算よさんでは実現じつげんできない。

    keikaku sonomono wa warukunai. daga, ima no yosan de wa jitsugen dekinai.

    The plan itself isn't bad. Yet with the budget as it stands it can't be carried out. neutral

  3. ご要望ようぼうは確たしかに承うけたまわりました。ですが、規定きていにより今回こんかいは対応たいおういたしかねます。

    go youbou wa tashika ni uketamawarimashita. desuga, kitei ni yori konkai wa taiou itashikanemasu.

    We have certainly noted your request. However, under the rules we are unable to accommodate it this time. formal

How it's formed1

All forms2

  • ですがdesugaformal

    the polite face — meetings, service speech and mail close to speech; formal ですます writing still opens with しかし far more often.

  • だがしかしdagashikashicolloquial

    doubles up for effect; commentary, blogs and speech reaching for drama, never a report.