但し・ただし

Japanese Grammar Advanced Japanese ★★★ 3/5 formal ただしtadashi
読み ただし
ローマ字 tadashi
形 Statement。ただし、Condition / Exception
漢字の分解 但 (however, provided that)

意味

A conjunction meaning 'however' or 'provided that,' used to introduce a condition, restriction, proviso, or exception to a preceding statement. It narrows or qualifies what has just been said.

ただし functions as a formal conjunction that introduces limitations, exceptions, or conditions to a general statement. Unlike しかし, which presents a broad contrast or contradiction, ただし specifically adds a qualifying condition or caveat — it does not reverse the preceding statement but rather refines it. It is the standard conjunction for provisos in legal documents, contracts, official notices, academic papers, and rules. The pattern is typically: general statement + ただし + condition/exception. It can also appear at the start of a new sentence. While it exists in spoken Japanese, it sounds deliberate and formal in conversation, where でも or ただ would be more natural for casual restrictions. In writing, it is indispensable for precise, unambiguous qualification.

例文

  1. 本イベントは無料でご参加いただけます。ただし、事前予約が必要です。
  2. 全社員に在宅勤務が認められている。ただし、月に一度は出社しなければならない。
  3. 論文の提出期限は今月末とする。ただし、特別な事情がある場合は延長を認める。

使い方ガイド

場面: written, legal, academic

トーン: precise

正しい言い方

  • 当施設の利用は会員に限ります。ただし、会員の同伴者一名までは入場を許可します。
  • 試験中の辞書使用は認める。ただし、電子辞書は不可とする。
  • 返品は購入後三十日以内であれば受け付けます。ただし、開封済みの商品は対象外です。

避ける言い方

  • ただし、今日は暑いですね。(Using ただし as a topic changer or casual transition — ただし specifically introduces a condition or exception to a preceding statement) → ところで、今日は暑いですね。
  • この店は美味しい。ただし安い。(Using ただし to add supporting information rather than a restriction — ただし must introduce a limitation, not additional positive details) → この店は美味しい。しかも安い。

起源と歴史

ただし derives from the adverb ただ (merely, only) combined with the particle し, forming a conjunctive expression meaning 'but only.' The kanji 但 specifically means 'however' or 'provided that' and is used extensively in legal and official Japanese, reflecting Chinese classical legal writing conventions.

文化的背景

世代: All ages

社会的背景: Universal

関連フレーズ

なぜか An adverb meaning 'for some reason' or 'somehow,' indicating that the speaker or writer does not know or cannot explain the cause of a situation or phenomenon. 一応 An adverb meaning 'tentatively,' 'for now,' or 'just in case,' indicating that an action or state is only preliminary, temporary, or meets a minimum standard without being fully satisfactory. 何[(Number)+Counter]も A phrase indicating a large number of something, emphasizing quantity beyond normal expectation. It means 'many,' 'numerous,' or 'as many as [number]' when combined with counters. 何とか An adverb meaning 'somehow,' 'one way or another,' or 'manage to,' expressing that something is accomplished with difficulty or that a situation barely reaches an acceptable outcome. 単に An adverb meaning 'simply,' 'merely,' or 'just,' used to indicate that something is nothing more than what is stated. It often downplays or limits the scope of a claim. 済む A verb meaning 'to be finished,' 'to be settled,' or 'to suffice,' used to express that something is completed or that a minimal effort or outcome is enough to resolve a situation. ～でも・じゃあるまいし A phrase meaning 'it's not as if (one is)...' used to express the speaker's belief that someone's behavior or attitude is inappropriate because the premise it seems based on is wrong or absurd. ～でも[Wh. word]でも A structure meaning 'whether X or whatever,' indicating that what is expressed in the main clause holds true regardless of the specific case. It expresses universality or indifference to the particular choice.
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