けど at the end of the sentence?


According to dictionaries, 「けど」 means ‘but’, ‘although’, ‘however’.

However, it seems to have slightly another meaning at the end of the sentence.
For example, here are few example sentences with their approximate
translations (correct me if I'm wrong):

  * 「まあ、いいけど。」 — ‘I guess, it's okay.’
  * 「お話があるのですけど」 — ‘I have something to tell you’
  * 「セーターが欲しいんだけど」 — ‘I'm looking for a sweater’

Translations demonstrate that「けど」 introduces some uncertainty, but don't
feature anything close to ‘but’ or ‘however’.

Can anyone clarify how the meaning of 「けど」 at the end of sentence can be
expressed in English, when it's appropriate to use this word, and what's it
‘politeness level’?




There is also `が`.

> お話があるのですが

It is sort of a hedge (weakening). And I see the exact same thing in English.
Are you a native English speaker? If so, you should have encountered these
expressions. I know a person who ends a sentence with `but`.

> It's okay, but ... [Sentence ends without continuation]

Another variant I observe in English is:

> Do you want this, or ... [Sentence ends without continuation]

And very often, I see English speaking people starting a conversation with
`so`:

> So, I am doing a project.

I personally feel uncomfortable with these, but it is the same thing in
English and Japanese. Maybe they are slightly different in that, in Japanese,
people put the period, but that will be awkward in English.




There is also `が`.

> お話があるのですが

It is sort of a hedge (weakening). And I see the exact same thing in English.
Are you a native English speaker? If so, you should have encountered these
expressions. I know a person who ends a sentence with `but`.

> It's okay, but ... [Sentence ends without continuation]

Another variant I observe in English is:

> Do you want this, or ... [Sentence ends without continuation]

And very often, I see English speaking people starting a conversation with
`so`:

> So, I am doing a project.

I personally feel uncomfortable with these, but it is the same thing in
English and Japanese. Maybe they are slightly different in that, in Japanese,
people put the period, but that will be awkward in English.

