たところでEven if one did; doing so would not help
たところで concedes that an action might be taken, then judges that it would fail to achieve the desired result, make little difference, or be pointless.
How it works
The first clause asks you to imagine that the action is carried out. The following clause then explains why the expected benefit still will not follow. Although the verb has a past form, the action is commonly hypothetical rather than an actual past event.
今さら謝ったところで、失った信用がすぐに戻るわけではない。
Even if one apologized now, the trust that was lost would not immediately return.
Analyze今さら reinforces the idea that the action is already too late.
Typical conclusions
The conclusion usually contains a negative or limiting judgment: it will not work, will not be enough, will not make the deadline, or will not necessarily solve the problem. Expressions such as 無駄だ, 間に合わない, 意味がない, and わけではない are therefore common after it.
Different kinds of futility
どうせ急いだところで、最終電車には間に合わない。
Even if we hurry, we will not make the last train anyway.
Analyze締め切りを一日延ばしたところで、作業量が減るわけではない。
Even if the deadline were extended by one day, the amount of work would not decrease.
Analyzeそんな古い資料を集めたところで、何の役に立つのだろう。
Even if we collected such old materials, what good would they do?
AnalyzeWhen the result is not a serious problem
Less often, the judgment is that the imagined event would not cause any meaningful harm. The same basic logic remains: allowing the event does not materially change the outcome.
少しくらい遅れたところで、大きな問題にはならない。
Even if we are a little late, it will not cause any major problem.
AnalyzeA stronger judgment than a general concession
ても simply says that a result holds despite a condition; the result may be positive, neutral, or negative. たところで characteristically adds the speaker's judgment that taking the action would not achieve much.
More examples
今から出発したところで、開演には間に合わない。
Even if we leave now, we will not arrive before the performance begins.
Analyze過去を悔やんだところで、何も変わらない。
Even if you regret the past, nothing will change.
Analyzeどれほど丁寧に説明したところで、聞く気のない人には伝わらない。
No matter how carefully you explain it, the message will not get through to someone unwilling to listen.
Analyzeその数字を隠したところで、調査すればすぐに分かる。
Even if the figures are hidden, an investigation will reveal them immediately.
Analyze何度読み返したところで、本人の意図までは分からない。
However many times we reread it, we cannot know the writer's full intention.
Analyze専門家に相談したところで、必ず解決できるとは限らない。
Even if we consult a specialist, that does not guarantee a solution.
Analyze