は〜が…は

は〜が…は means A is …, but B is …. It is a JLPT N4 Japanese grammar pattern used to express this idea in natural Japanese.

This English meaning is written independently from the source list so it answers the learner question directly: what does は〜が…は mean and when should you use it?

What does は〜が…は mean?

Use は〜が…は when you want to express A is …, but B is … in a Japanese sentence.

Natural translations include:

• A is …, but B is …
• to express “A is …, but B is …” naturally
• the closest natural English meaning in context

How to form は〜が…は

A は + phrase が + B は + contrasting phrase

Examples of the pattern:

• A は + phrase が + B は + contrasting phrase
• は〜が…は
• related form: けれども

When is は〜が…は used?

Use は〜が…は in situations like:

• reading or writing JLPT N4-level sentences
• making a sentence more precise than a basic N5 pattern
• recognizing natural grammar in conversation or short passages

Tone and register:

• usually neutral unless the pattern itself is casual, humble, honorific, or written
• common in JLPT N4 grammar study and everyday examples

は〜が…は example sentences

• 日本語は好きですが、漢字は難しいです。 — I like Japanese, but kanji is difficult.
• 料理はできますが、掃除は苦手です。 — I can cook, but I am bad at cleaning.
• この店は安いですが、駅からは遠いです。 — This shop is cheap, but it is far from the station.
• 読むことは簡単ですが、話すことは難しいです。 — Reading is easy, but speaking is difficult.
• 夏は好きですが、暑さは苦手です。 — I like summer, but I do not handle the heat well.

Nuance of は〜が…は

The key nuance is A is …, but B is … in context, not a word-for-word English replacement.

This matters because は〜が…は often changes the relationship between actions, people, time, or evidence in the sentence. Read the whole sentence before choosing the English translation.

は〜が…は vs けれども

Both patterns can appear in related sentences, but they do different jobs.

は〜が…は:

• is the target JLPT N4 pattern in this lesson
• focuses on A is …, but B is …

けれども:

• is useful for comparison because learners often confuse nearby forms
• may change the tone, evidence, direction, or relationship in the sentence

Quick contrast examples:

• Target pattern: 日本語は好きですが、漢字は難しいです。 — I like Japanese, but kanji is difficult.
• Related pattern with けれども: compare what changes in evidence, timing, direction, or politeness.

Common mistakes with は〜が…は

Watch out for these mistakes:

• Translating it too literally without understanding the nuance
• Using the wrong verb, adjective, or noun form
• Confusing は〜が…は with けれども because the English can sound similar

Is は〜が…は on the JLPT?

Yes. は〜が…は is connected to JLPT N4 grammar in this blog.

That means learners should be able to:

• recognize it in reading
• understand its nuance in context
• use it in simple original sentences

Practice questions for は〜が…は

Try making your own sentences with these prompts:

• Write one short sentence using the basic structure.
• Replace the subject, time, or object and keep the same grammar point.
• Compare your sentence with the related pattern above.

Learning path for は〜が…は

Use は〜が…は as part of your JLPT N4 comparison, degree, and focus grammar toolkit. Decide what は〜が…は is comparing, emphasizing, or measuring, then practice replacing the compared item or degree expression while keeping the same sentence frame.

1. First, make one short sentence with は〜が…は.
2. Next, compare it with ばかり to see how the nuance changes.
3. Then, add だけで or より and observe the difference.
4. Finally, write one sentence that uses は〜が…は in its most literal meaning, one sentence that changes the subject or time expression, and one sentence that contrasts it with one of the related patterns below.

Related grammar to review next

• ばかり — contrasts with this pattern from the listing, addition, and choice grammar group.
• だけで — contrasts with this pattern from the listing, addition, and choice grammar group.
• より — gives another pattern for comparison, degree, or sentence focus.
• の中で — gives another pattern for comparison, degree, or sentence focus.

Learn は〜が…は with Hane

If you want to review は〜が…は together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.

Browse more lessons here:

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• JLPT N4 grammar lessons