のだが

but; although; the thing is…, I wish…

→ の

phrase Very common #493

but; although; the thing is… A sentence-ending combination of explanatory のだ and contrastive が. It presents background or an explanation while signaling a reservation, contrast, or an unstated continuation. It is less polite than のですが; in conversation, the speaker may trail off after it to imply a request or concern.

JA: 君と一緒に海に行きたいのだが。

EN: I'd like to go to the beach with you, but…

体をもっと大切にしておけばよかったのだが。

I should have taken better care of myself.

彼はアンが好きだったのだが、両親はそうではないらしい。

He liked Ann, but apparently his parents didn’t.

もっと時間があったなら、もっと長い手紙を書いたのだが。

If I’d had more time, I would have written a longer letter.

村人たちは来ると思ったのだが君たちは皆指定カーストなのか？

I thought the villagers would come, but are you all from a Scheduled Caste?

— Article 15 (2019)

彼は画家だった、彼の外見でわかったのだが。

He was a painter—I could tell just by looking at him.

彼女は風呂付きの部屋を探していたのだが、この近くで見つけた。

She was looking for a room with a bath, and she found one nearby.

次の試験の準備をすべきなのだが、今とてもそれはできそうにない。

I should be preparing for the next exam, but I don't feel capable of doing that right now.

塀にペンキを塗る必要はなかったのだが。

I didn't need to paint the fence, though.

私はそれを警察に報告すべきだったのだが、しなかった。

I should have reported it to the police, but I didn't.

あなたに手紙を書くつもりだったのだが。

I was going to write you a letter, but…

時間はたっぷりあるのだが、お金が足りない。

I have plenty of time, but not enough money.

会いたかったのだが税務署から来ました

I wanted to see you, but I came from the tax office.

— M - Eine Stadt sucht einen Mörder (1931)

仮に私があなたなら、帰宅してゆっくり休むのだが。

If I were you, I'd go home and get some rest.

私は間違った、そうするつもりはなかったのだが。

I made a mistake; I didn’t mean to do that.

私は彼に説明してやったのだが、彼は混乱するばかりであった。

I explained it to him, but all I did was confuse him further.

それはもはや重要なことではないと思うのだが。

I don't think that matters anymore.

私はパーティーで彼に会いたいと思っていたのだが。

I had wanted to see him at the party, but...

この困難な状況で私が何をすべきかあなたが教えてくれればよいのだが。

I wish you would tell me what I should do in this difficult situation.

トムに会いたかったのだが、彼は不在だった。

I wanted to see Tom, but he wasn't there.

まだよく分からんのだがよくなるよ

I still don’t really get it, but it’ll get better.

— ８ 1／2 (1963)

もし暇があれば、私はフランス語を勉強するのだが。

If I had the time, I'd study French.

こんな所に穴などないのだが夢は便利だ

There’s no hole in a place like this, but dreams are convenient.

— The Wind Rises (2013)

彼女はインドに行きたかったのだが。

She wanted to go to India, but...

もし私がひまであれば、彼の招待を受けるのだが。

If I were free, I would accept his invitation.

彼が医者の言うことを聞いていたら、今でも生きていたかもしれないのだが。

If only he had listened to the doctor, he might still be alive.

昨日その手紙を書いておけばよかったのだが。

I should have written that letter yesterday.

経歴のために彼はその仕事を始めたのだが、好きにはなれなかった。

He took the job to build his career, but he didn't like it.

とても忙しかったのだが、彼女は私を見送りに来てくれた。

She was very busy, but she still came to see me off.

できれば彼女と別れたいのだが、を解雇したいのだが。

If possible, I'd like to break up with her, but I also want to fire her.

うちの犬は、ジョンという名前なのだが、だれにでも吠える。

My dog, whose name is John, barks at everyone.

天気がよければハイキングに行くのだが。

If the weather were nice, I would go hiking.

命令は無いのだが

It's not exactly an order, though.

— Article 15 (2019)

その若い二人が早く仲直りしてくれれば良いのだが。

I hope those two young people make up soon.

貧乏でなければその車を買うのだが。

If I weren't poor, I'd buy that car.

とても寒かったのだが、私たちは出かけたのだ。

It was very cold, but we went out anyway.

彼は若いのだが、髭は白い。

He is young, but his beard is white.

昨晩、芝居を見に行けばよかったのだが。

I wish I had gone to see the play last night.

私は成功するつもりだったのだが成功できなかった。

I intended to succeed, but I couldn't.

私は彼を訪ねるつもりだったのだが、できなかった。

I had intended to visit him, but I couldn't.

今週までにはそれを終えてしまいたかったのだが。

I wanted to have it finished by this week, though.

私があなたを援助できればよいのだが。

I wish I could help you.

もし私が鳥ならば、君のところへ飛んで行けるのだが。

If I were a bird, I could fly to you.

彼のエラーがなかったなら我々は勝てたのだが。

If it hadn't been for his error, we would have won.

もしも彼が本当のことを話してくれたら、わたしは彼を許したのだが。

If only he had told me the truth, I would have forgiven him.

怠惰でなければ、彼はいいやつなのだが。

He’d be a good guy if he weren’t so lazy.

彼に聞きなさいと言っているのだが、彼はどうしても聞こうとしない。

I keep telling him to ask, but he just refuses to.

彼が回復するように願ったのだが。

I hoped he would recover, but...

彼の援助がなかったら、あの仕事は完成できなかったのだが。

Without his help, I wouldn't have been able to complete that job.

もし仕事がなく暇なら、私はこれらの本を読めるのだが。

If I didn't have a job and had free time, I could read these books.

もっと時間があったら、もっとうまくやることが出来たのだが。

If I had had more time, I could have done a better job.

彼らは先月結婚する事になっていたのだが。

They were supposed to get married last month, but...

もし彼女の住所を知っていれば、手紙を書くのだが。

If I knew her address, I would write her a letter.

私はその仕事を終えるつもりだったのだが。

I intended to finish that job, but...

少女は彼に本当のことを言いたかったのだが、言えなかった。

The girl wanted to tell him the truth, but she couldn't.

文学に今求めるものって別にないのだが。

It’s not like I’m looking for anything in particular from literature right now.

もし十分にお金があれば、そのすてきな車を買うのだが。

If I had enough money, I would buy that wonderful car.

払う金があれば、払えるのだが。

If I had the money, I could pay.

君の電話番号がわかっていたら、私は電話をかけたのだが。

If I had known your phone number, I would have called you.

私たちは昨日会う事になっていたのだが。

We were supposed to meet yesterday, but...

ひとつ食べてみようと思っていたのだが、店が閉まっていた。

I was thinking of trying one, but the shop was closed.

もし彼の住所を、知っていれば手紙が書けるのだが。

If I knew his address, I could write him a letter.

もしあの時、彼が私と一緒にいてくれたら、私はあんなことはしなかったのだが。

If only he had been with me then, I wouldn’t have done such a thing.

私達は朝から待っていたのだが、彼はとうとう来なかった。

We had been waiting since morning, but he never came in the end.

私が彼と同じくらい金持ちだったらよいのだが。

I wish I were as rich as he is.

彼はとても裕福なのだが、少しも幸せではない。

He is very wealthy, but not happy at all.

学校へ行くことが義務でなければ、行くのを止めるのだが。

If going to school weren’t compulsory, I’d stop going.

私は昨日君を訪ねるつもりだったのだが。

I was planning to visit you yesterday, but...

知りたいのだがそなたの特技に名前はあるか

I’d like to know—does your special skill have a name?

— HERO (2002)

彼女が私のとなりに座ってくれればいいのだが。

I wish she would sit next to me.

ジョンは、クラスの中で一番背が高いのだがミスターハイというあだ名だ。

John is the tallest in the class, so his nickname is Mr. High.

もし彼が本当のことを話したら、私は彼を許したのだが。

If he had told me the truth, I would have forgiven him.

この欠点さえなければ、さっそく彼を雇うのだが。

If it weren’t for this one flaw, I’d hire him right away.

彼は昨年ナポリを訪れるつもりであったのだが。

He had intended to visit Naples last year, but…

もし私の家が大邸宅だったら私の誕生日のパーティーには知人をみんな招待するのだが。

If my house were a mansion, I would invite all my acquaintances to my birthday party.

頭痛さえなければいくのだが。

If it weren't for my headache, I'd go.

phrase Very common #1,434

I wish… Often used at the end of a sentence to express a wish or regret that is unlikely or unrealized, with an implied “but…” or unspoken qualification.

JA: もっとゆっくり話せるといいのだが。

EN: I wish I could speak more slowly.

私は、本当のことを知っていればあなたに話すのだが。

If I knew the truth, I would tell you.

願いが現実になるとよいのだが。

I hope my wish comes true.

彼の住所を知っていれば手紙を書くのだが。

If I knew his address, I would write him a letter.

雪がなければ、その山に登ることができるのだが。

If it weren’t for the snow, I could climb that mountain.

もし今日が日曜日なら、私は釣りにいくのだが。

If today were Sunday, I would go fishing.