けど / けれど

but

Joins two clauses, most often in contrast: "X, but Y". The same けど also softens a sentence by leaving the rest unsaid, or sets up a topic before the main point.

Readings

How to form it

Put けど after the first clause, in the plain or polite form: 高(たか)いけど, 高(たか)いですけど.
After a noun or な-adjective, add だ: 学生(がくせい)だけど.
けど is casual. けれど and けれども are more formal, and が is the usual "but" in polite speech and writing.

Examples

高(たか)いですけど、買(か)います。

It's expensive, but I'll buy it.

日本語(にほんご)は難(むずか)しいけど、面白(おもしろ)いです。

Japanese is hard, but it's interesting.

Notes

A sentence can end in けど to soften it and leave the rest unsaid: 明日(あした)はちょっと用事(ようじ)があるんですけど… (I have something on tomorrow, so…).
けど can also introduce a topic before the main point, with no real contrast: 田中(たなか)ですけど、先生(せんせい)はいますか (this is Tanaka — is the teacher in?).

Similar meaning

〜のにeven though
"Even though", with surprise or frustration that things went against expectation.