JLPT N1Work and service talkCourteous

ところをwhen you're so busy; when it should have been

Two uses. お忙いそがしいところを comes before thanks, an apology or a request: you know this is a bad moment for the other person. The other use is "it should have been A, but it was B".

courtesy

お忙いそがしいところを恐おそれ入いりますが、こちらの書しょ類るいをご確かく認にんいただけますでしょうか。

I am sorry to trouble you while you are busy, but could you please check these documents?

should have been

普ふ通つうなら一いち時じ間かんかかるところを、三さん十じゅっ分ぷんで着ついた。

It would normally take an hour, but we got there in thirty minutes.

Courtesy

い-adjective + ところ（を）　／　noun + の + ところ（を）

About the other person, so usually with お or ご: お忙いそがしいところ, お休やすみのところ, お食しょく事じ中ちゅうのところ. The を is often dropped.

Should have been

Verb (plain form) + ところを　／　noun + の + ところを

Often べきところを, with 本ほん来らいなら, 普ふ通つうなら or いつもなら in front. With a price: 通つう常じょう一いち万まん円えんのところ（を）.

Before thanks, an apology or a request

You are breaking in on someone, or have put them to trouble, and you say so first. Then comes すみません, 恐おそれ入いりますが, ありがとうございます or the request itself. People say it all day on the phone, in work email and at reception desks.

お休やすみのところをすみません。

I'm sorry to disturb you on your day off.

お食しょく事じ中ちゅうのところ、申もうし訳わけありません。後のちほどかけ直なおします。

I'm sorry to call in the middle of your meal. I'll call back later.

On the phone.

ご多た用ようのところを会かい議ぎにご出しゅっ席せきいただき、誠まことにありがとうございました。

Thank you very much for attending the meeting despite your busy schedule.

忙いそがしいとこ、ごめんね。

Sorry, I know you're busy.

To a friend: no お, no を, and ところ shrinks to とこ.

When it should have been otherwise

First what would normally or properly happen, then what happened instead: a slip, a favor, a nice surprise. This use is mostly written, or said on formal occasions.

本ほん来らいなら事じ前ぜんに説せつ明めいすべきところを、連れん絡らくが当とう日じつになってしまい、申もうし訳わけございません。

We should have explained in advance, and instead we are only telling you on the day. We are very sorry.

引ひき留とめるべきところを、本ほん人にんの決けつ意いを尊そん重ちょうして送おくり出だした。

We ought to have tried to keep him, but we respected his decision and saw him off.

通つう常じょう一いち万まん円えんのところを、本ほん日じつに限かぎり七なな千せん円えんでご提てい供きょういたします。

Normally 10,000 yen, it is yours for 7,000 today only.

Shops and adverts: the usual price, then today's. The を often drops.

Close neighbours

お忙しい中（を）N2

The twin of the courtesy, with 中なか. Mostly in thanks to someone who came or replied.

お忙いそがしい中なか、ご返へん信しんいただきありがとうございます。

Thank you for replying when you are so busy.

ところを見られるN3

After a verb, ところを is often just a moment: someone is seen, caught or helped in the middle of something.

泣ないているところを友とも達だちに見みられた。

A friend saw me crying.

のにN4

The everyday "even though", and what people say for "should have been".

普ふ通つうなら一いち時じ間かんかかるのに、三さん十じゅっ分ぷんで着ついた。

It normally takes an hour, and yet we got there in thirty minutes.

Check yourself

1Which ending fits?

お疲つかれのところを（　　）。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Who went to see whom?

本ほん来らいならこちらから伺うかがうべきところを、わざわざお越こしいただき、恐きょう縮しゅくです。

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

お急いそぎのところを恐きょう縮しゅくですが、申しん請せい内ない容ようをもう一いち度どご確かく認にんください。

I am sorry to hold you up when you are in a hurry, but please check the application details once more.

お足あし元もとの悪わるいところをお越こしいただき、誠まことにありがとうございます。

Thank you very much for coming in this bad weather.

ご多た忙ぼうのところご助じょ言げんを賜たまわり、心こころより御お礼れい申もうし上あげます。

I am most grateful for your advice at such a busy time.

A formal letter.

本ほん来らいなら慎しん重ちょうに判はん断だんすべきところを、十じゅう分ぶんな検けん討とうもせずに計けい画かくを承しょう認にんしてしまった。

It called for careful judgment, and yet the plan was approved without being looked into properly.

規き定ていどおり不ふ受じゅ理りとすべきところを、事じ情じょうを考こう慮りょして再さい審しん査さが認みとめられた。

By the rules the application should have been rejected, but in view of the circumstances a second review was allowed.