JLPT N2Spoken and writtenA side note

ちなみにincidentally; for what it's worth

You add a side fact about the same subject, one you could leave out: "incidentally", "for what it's worth". It is as common in writing as in talk.

このホテルは空くう港こうから電でん車しゃで十じゅう五ご分ふんです。ちなみに、最も寄より駅えきからは無む料りょうバスも出でています。

This hotel is fifteen minutes from the airport by train. Incidentally, there is also a free bus from the nearest station.

How to form it

Sentence。ちなみに、+ a side fact or a side question

It opens a new sentence. Now and then it is written 因ちなみに.

After it: A number, a name, a practical detail, a bit of background, or your own case. It can be a question too.
Tone: Neutral: fine with friends, with customers and in work emails.
Where you'll meet it: Conversation, presentations, emails, blogs, articles, guidebooks.

In use

A

来らい週しゅうの説せつ明めい会かいは午ご後ご二に時じからです。

Next week's information session starts at two in the afternoon.

B

ありがとうございます。ちなみに、会かい場じょうに駐ちゅう車しゃ場じょうはありますか。

Thank you. Incidentally, is there parking at the venue?

As a question: one more detail B would like to know.

A

私わたし、辛からいものが大だい好すきなんです。

I love spicy food.

B

そうなんですか。ちなみに、私わたしは全ぜん然ぜんだめです。

Do you? For what it's worth, I can't handle it at all.

この美び術じゅつ館かんは、かつて市し役やく所しょとして使つかわれていた。ちなみに、建たて物もの自じ体たいも文ぶん化か財ざいに指し定ていされている。

This art museum was once the city hall. The building itself, incidentally, is a designated cultural property.

In writing: a guidebook, an article.

ちなみに or ところで?

English "by the way" does two jobs. ちなみに does one of them: it stays on the subject.

来らい月げつ、京きょう都とで学がっ会かいがあります。ちなみに、会かい場じょうは京きょう都と駅えきの近ちかくです。

There is a conference in Kyoto next month. The venue is near Kyoto Station, by the way.

One more detail of the conference.

来らい月げつ、京きょう都とで学がっ会かいがあります。ところで、昨日きのうの試し合あいは見みましたか。

There is a conference in Kyoto next month. By the way, did you watch yesterday's game?

The game has nothing to do with the conference. ちなみに doesn't fit here.

Close neighbours

ところでN3

The plain "by the way": a different subject, with nothing needed to link it to the last.

田た中なかさんが来らい月げつ大おお阪さかへ転てん勤きんすると聞きいた。ところで、今日きょうの会かい議ぎは何なん時じから？

I heard Tanaka is being transferred to Osaka next month. By the way, what time does today's meeting start?

そういえばN2

"That reminds me": something just said or noticed brings the new thing to mind.

田た中なかさんが来らい月げつ大おお阪さかへ転てん勤きんすると聞きいた。そういえば、送そう別べつ会かいはいつにする？

I heard Tanaka is being transferred to Osaka next month. That reminds me, when shall we have the farewell party?

それはそうとN2

"Anyway": you drop the subject on purpose to bring up something else.

その問もん題だいについてはあとで話はなそう。それはそうと、体たい調ちょうはもう大だい丈じょう夫ぶなの？

Let's talk about that problem later. Anyway, are you feeling all right now?

なおN2

"Please note": the formal one, on notices and in business email, for something the reader needs to know.

会かい議ぎは三さん階がいの大だい会かい議ぎ室しつで行おこないます。なお、資し料りょうは各かく席せきに用よう意いしてあります。

The meeting will be held in the large conference room on the third floor. Please note that the materials have been placed at each seat.

Check yourself

1The talk turns from the meeting to small talk. Which one fits?

来らい週しゅうの会かい議ぎは月げつ曜よう日びです。（　　）、週しゅう末まつは何なにをしましたか。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which sentence could the writer have left out?

この店みせは五ご十じゅう年ねん前まえに開かい店てんした。ちなみに、今いまの店てん主しゅは三さん代だい目めだ。

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

田た中なかさんは北ほっ海かい道どうの出しゅっ身しんです。ちなみに、大だい学がくも札さっ幌ぽろでした。

Ms. Tanaka is from Hokkaido. She went to college in Sapporo too, by the way.

この講こう座ざはオンラインでも受じゅ講こうできます。ちなみに、教きょう材ざい費ひは受じゅ講こう料りょうに含ふくまれています。

This course can also be taken online. The cost of the materials, incidentally, is included in the fee.

明日あしたの会かい議ぎは十じゅう時じに始はじまります。ちなみに、資し料りょうは今朝けさメールで送おくりました。

Tomorrow's meeting starts at ten. I sent the materials by email this morning, by the way.

今こん回かいの調ちょう査さには百ひゃく二に十じゅう人にんが参さん加かした。ちなみに、前ぜん回かいの参さん加か者しゃは五ご十じゅう人にんだった。

One hundred and twenty people took part in this survey. For reference, the previous one had fifty.