〜は〜が、〜は wa ... ga, ... wa

〜は〜が、〜は（wa ... ga, ... wa）means “..., but as for ... (contrast with は)”. Using は twice sets two items against each other for contrast. Formation: Aは Bだ／です、Cは Dだ／です（が／けど でつなぐ）

..., but as for ... (contrast with は)

N4

Formation

Aは Bだ／です、Cは Dだ／です（が／けど でつなぐ）

Explanation

Using は twice sets two items against each other for contrast. The が (or けど) in the middle means 'but/while'. Each は marks a contrasted topic, showing how A differs from C. This は is the contrast use, not the neutral topic use.

Examples

にくは すきですが、さかなは すきじゃ ありません。
にくは すきですが、さかなは すきじゃ ありません。
I like meat, but I don't like fish.
あには せが たかいですが、おとうとは ひくいです。
あには せが たかいですが、おとうとは ひくいです。
My older brother is tall, but my younger brother is short.

Note

The contrastive は often replaces を or が on the contrasted items; が/けど links the two clauses.

FAQ

〜は〜が、〜は — what does it mean and how is it used?

..., but as for ... (contrast with は). Using は twice sets two items against each other for contrast. The が (or けど) in the middle means 'but/while'. Each は marks a contrasted topic, showing how A differs from C. This は is the contrast use, not the neutral topic use.

〜は〜が、〜は — how do you form it?

Aは Bだ／です、Cは Dだ／です（が／けど でつなぐ）

〜は〜が、〜は — any usage notes?

The contrastive は often replaces を or が on the contrasted items; が/けど links the two clauses.

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