ところで
ところで
by the way
ところで is used to change the topic: 'by the way'. It shows that the speaker is finished with the last topic and now wants to talk about something else. It is often used after small talk to move to the real business, or to ask about something that has just come to mind. It does not show contrast or a result.
今日は暑いですね。ところで、来週の会議は何時からですか。
きょうはあついですね。ところで、らいしゅうのかいぎはなんじからですか。
It's hot today, isn't it? By the way, what time does next week's meeting start?
Structure
Sentence A。ところで、sentence B (a new topic)。 ところで is a conjunction at the start of a sentence. The sentence after it is about something different from what came before, and it is very often a question.
Examples
7
ところで、駅の前に新しいパン屋ができたのを知ってる？
ところで、えきのまえにあたらしいパンやができたのをしってる？
By the way, do you know that a new bakery opened in front of the station?
旅行、楽しかったよ。ところで、頼んでいた本、持ってきてくれた？
りょこう、たのしかったよ。ところで、たのんでいたほん、もってきてくれた？
The trip was fun. By the way, did you bring the book I asked for?
ところで、最近リンさんに会っていませんね。元気でしょうか。
ところで、さいきんリンさんにあっていませんね。げんきでしょうか。
By the way, we haven't seen Linh lately. I wonder if she's well.
準備はこれで終わりです。ところで、皆さんに一つお知らせがあります。
じゅんびはこれでおわりです。ところで、みなさんにひとつおしらせがあります。
That's all for the preparation. By the way, I have an announcement for everyone.
ところで、私、来月から大阪で働くことになりました。
ところで、わたし、らいげつからおおさかではたらくことになりました。
By the way, it's been decided that I'll work in Osaka from next month.
ところで、昨日の試合はどうだった？
ところで、きのうのしあいはどうだった？
By the way, how was yesterday's game?
Common mistakes
2
- Using ところで for an unexpected result. That is ところが. ✗ 一生懸命勉強した。ところで、試験に落ちた → ✓ 一生懸命勉強した。ところが、試験に落ちた.
- Using ところで to add another point about the same topic. ところで always moves to a different topic; to add a point, use それに. ✗ この店は安い。ところで、おいしい → ✓ この店は安い。それに、おいしい.
How it's different from similar grammar
2
- ところが (however, contrary to expectation)
- Only one sound is different, but the meaning is very different. ところが stays in the same story and shows that the next fact went against expectation: バスを待った。ところが、30分待っても来なかった (I waited for the bus. But it didn't come even after 30 minutes). ところで leaves the story and starts a new topic: バス、来ないね。ところで、今日の夜は空いてる？ (The bus isn't coming, is it? By the way, are you free tonight?).
- それに (besides, what's more)
- それに stays on the same topic and adds one more point of the same kind: この部屋は広い。それに、明るい (This room is big. Besides, it's bright). ところで does not add anything to the last topic; it moves to a new one.
How this shows up on the JLPT
In N3 grammar questions and 'grammar in a passage' questions, ところで is often placed next to ところが, それで and それに as choices. If the sentence after the blank talks about something completely different, often as a question, the answer is ところで. In listening, ところで tells you that the speaker's main point may be coming next.
Quick check (3 questions)
Choose the word that fits the blank: 「試験、やっと終わったね。＿＿、夏休みはどこか行くの？」
「しけん、やっとおわったね。＿＿、なつやすみはどこかいくの？」
Which sentence uses ところで correctly?
When do you use ところで?
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