JLPT N2ConversationalChanging the subject

それはそうとanyway; that aside

You drop the subject on purpose to bring up something else: "anyway", "that aside". It is a little more deliberate than ところで.

旅りょ行こうの話はなしはあとでゆっくり聞きくよ。それはそうと、もう電でん車しゃが来くる時じ間かんじゃない？

I'll hear all about the trip later. Anyway, isn't it about time for the train?

How to form it

One subject。それはそうと、+ another

It opens a new sentence, often after a short answer: うん。それはそうと….

After it: Mostly a question, or something practical: a time, a deadline, a thing you meant to ask.
How it sounds: Purposeful, not rude. Cutting across something the other person cares about, it can sound as if you weren't listening.
Where you'll meet it: Conversation, polite or casual, and dialogue in novels. Rare in other writing.

In use

A

昨日きのうの映えい画が、最さい後ごの場ば面めんがよかったね。

The last scene of yesterday's movie was good, wasn't it?

B

うん。それはそうと、今日きょうの宿しゅく題だいはもう出だした？

Yeah. Anyway, have you handed in today's homework yet?

新あたらしい店みせの料りょう理りはおいしかったね。それはそうと、帰かえりのバスはまだあるかな。

The food at the new place was good, wasn't it? Anyway, I wonder if there's still a bus home.

企き画かくの細こまかい点てんは午ご後ごに確かく認にんしましょう。それはそうと、先せん方ぽうへの連れん絡らくは済すみましたか。

Let's go over the details of the plan this afternoon. That aside, have you contacted the other party yet?

Polite, at work.

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?

ちなみにN2

"Incidentally": a side fact about the same subject, one you could leave out.

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.

それはさておきN2

The same move in a talk or in writing, often back to the main business after a digression.

それはさておき、来らい週しゅうの予よ定ていを決きめましょう。

Anyway, let's settle next week's schedule.

Check yourself

1What is B doing?

A「このケーキ、おいしいね。」　B「そうだね。それはそうと、来らい週しゅうの旅りょ行こうの切きっ符ぷ、もう買かった？」

Choose an answer to see why.

2B turns from the game to work. Which one fits B's reply?

A「昨日きのうの試し合あい、すごかったね。」　B「うん、すごかった。（　　）、頼たのんでおいた資し料りょうはできた？」

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

話はなしは変かわるけど

People also announce the change outright: "to change the subject". Politely it is 話はなしは変かわりますが.

話はなしは変かわるけど、来らい週しゅうの日にち曜よう日び、空あいてる？

To change the subject, are you free next Sunday?

それはそうだけど

It sounds alike and is something else: "that's true, but…". You agree, then argue.

それはそうだけど、やっぱり高たかすぎるよ。

That's true, but it's still too expensive.

More sentences

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?

写しゃ真しんの整せい理りは週しゅう末まつにやればいいよ。それはそうと、鍵かぎはちゃんと持もった？

You can sort out the photos over the weekend. Anyway, do you have your key?

新あたらしいオフィスの話はなしはまた今こん度どにしよう。それはそうと、明日あしたの会かい議ぎは何なん時じから？

Let's leave the new office for another time. Anyway, what time does tomorrow's meeting start?