connective N3 common polite teineigo (polite)
そうですが — that may be so, but ~
そうですが
Meaning
- that may be so, but ~ / you're right, however ~ — politely accepts what the other person said, then raises an objection
Key sentence
そうですが、今回は事情が違います。
That may be so, but this time the circumstances are different.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Stands alone as a reply: そうですが、 + [objection] | そうですが、[counter] | そうですね、でも… / そうですが、ただ… |
Examples
「安い方がいいでしょう。」「そうですが、安すぎるのも心配です。」
"Cheaper is better, right?" "That may be true, but too cheap is worrying as well."
確かにそうですが、もう少し検討したいです。
That's certainly so, but I'd like to consider it a bit more.
Easily confused with
Notes
- A gentle way to disagree: accepting first (そう = 'so/that') softens the pushback that follows が. Even politer is そうですね、ただ… or おっしゃる通りですが….
See そうですが in real sentences
Jengo shows そうですが the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar.