grammar - 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?

Answer

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.