What it means
でも can mean “but” or “however” when it appears at the beginning of a sentence and contrasts the following statement with something already mentioned or understood. It is common in everyday speech and writing, and it does not change for familiar or polite speech. The sentence after でも can use either a plain or a polite ending.
Usage note
This entry covers sentence-initial でも meaning “but” or “however.” でも also has other grammatical uses, such as marking an example or meaning “or something,” so its meaning depends on the surrounding sentence.
How to use it
でも、今日は映画を見ません。
But I will not watch a movie today.
でも、今日は映画を見ない。
But I will not watch a movie today.
Example sentences
でも、今日は雨なので、公園では遊べません。
But, because it is raining today, we cannot play in the park.
傘を持って出かけたいです。でも、玄関に傘がありません。
I want to go out with an umbrella. But there is no umbrella in the entrance.
でも、明日の試験は大切だから、今夜はテレビを見ません。
But because tomorrow's exam is important, I will not watch television tonight.