でも (demo) versus けど (kedo) to mean "but"


I learned that you can use でも ( _demo_ ) at the beginning of a sentence to
mean "but," and that you can use けど ( _kedo_ ) at the end of a sentence to
mean "though." However, I don't see a difference between these two.

For example, suppose someone says this:

  * あした かいもの に いきましょう. _Ashita kaimono ni ikimashō._ "Let's go shopping tomorrow." 

Would there be any difference in these two responses?

  * でも あした は やすみ です. _Demo ashita wa yasumi desu._ "But tomorrow is a holiday."
  * あした は やすみ です けど. _Ashita wa yasumi desu kedo._ "Tomorrow is a holiday though."

To me, these two responses seem to have the exact same meaning. So my question
is this: Are there are any differences between でも ( _demo_ ) and けど ( _kedo_
)? It seems like the placement of the "but" (でも at the beginning and けど at the
end) could change the emphasis. Is that true? If so, how?

Also, are there any situations when you can use one but not the other?




でも and けど are both "but". However, けど links a second clause - which may or may
not be actually said out loud.

So, when you are saying "あした は やすみ です けど." you are actually saying something
more like:

"Tomorrow is a holiday (but), so we can't go to the store"

but dropping the "obvious" bit of the sentence.

\--

Another very important usage of this - at least heavily used here in Kansai -
is to "soften" your statement when you make an assertion about something, so
as to not appear too strong. It works with the same idea:

"I'd like to go けど" ... "I'd like to go (but I won't if that causes difficulty
for someone)"

You'll hear this ALL the time! It's a nice little "early step" in your
Japanese, to be a bit more Japanese-sounding.




でも and けど are both "but". However, けど links a second clause - which may or may
not be actually said out loud.

So, when you are saying "あした は やすみ です けど." you are actually saying something
more like:

"Tomorrow is a holiday (but), so we can't go to the store"

but dropping the "obvious" bit of the sentence.

\--

Another very important usage of this - at least heavily used here in Kansai -
is to "soften" your statement when you make an assertion about something, so
as to not appear too strong. It works with the same idea:

"I'd like to go けど" ... "I'd like to go (but I won't if that causes difficulty
for someone)"

You'll hear this ALL the time! It's a nice little "early step" in your
Japanese, to be a bit more Japanese-sounding.

