JLPT N3Spoken and writtenChanging the subject

ところでby the way

You are done with one subject and bring up another: "by the way". What follows is very often a question.

昨日きのうの試し合あいは残ざん念ねんでしたね。ところで、次つぎの練れん習しゅうは何なん時じからですか。

It was a shame about yesterday's game, wasn't it? By the way, what time does the next practice start?

How to form it

One subject。ところで、a new one。

It starts a new sentence, after a pause. Straight after a verb in the た-form it is a different word: 急いそいだところで, "even if we hurry".

Tone: Neutral. The same word works with friends, with customers and with your boss.
Where you'll meet it: Conversation of every kind. In writing: emails, letters, essays, dialogue in novels.

In use

A

会かい場じょうは駅えきの近ちかくです。受うけ付つけは九く時じに始はじまります。

The venue is near the station. Registration begins at nine.

B

分わかりました。ところで、昼ちゅう食しょくは用よう意いされていますか。

I see. By the way, will lunch be provided?

その映えい画が、面おも白しろそうだね。ところで、明日あしたの朝あさは早はやいの？

That movie sounds interesting. By the way, do you have an early start tomorrow?

ところで、来らい月げつ引ひっ越こすことになりました。

By the way, I'm moving next month.

Not a question this time: news to pass on.

Close neighbours

ちなみにN2

The other "by the way": one more detail about what you were just saying. ところで moves on to something else.

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.

ところがN3

One kana apart and nothing alike: "but then…". What happened is not what anyone expected.

外そとは大おお雪ゆきだった。ところが、店てん内ないは客きゃくでいっぱいだった。

There was heavy snow outside. But as it turned out, the shop was packed with customers.

たところでN1

If your ところで comes straight after a verb in the た-form, in the middle of a sentence, it is not "by the way". Often it is this one: "even if".

どうせ急いそいだところで、最さい終しゅう電でん車しゃには間まに合あわない。

Even if we hurry, we won't make the last train anyway.

そういえばN2

"That reminds me": the new subject came to mind because of what was just said. ところで needs no such link.

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?

さてN3

"Now then": you turn to the next thing in line, not to a different subject.

さて、次つぎの議ぎ題だいに移うつりましょう。

Now, let us move on to the next agenda item.

Check yourself

1Which one fits?

やっと試し験けんが終おわったね。（　　）、夏なつ休やすみはどこかへ行いくの？

Choose an answer to see why.

2What does this mean?

少すこしくらい遅おくれたところで、大おおきな問もん題だいにはならない。

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

旅りょ行こうの予よ約やくは終おわったよ。ところで、駅えきまでどうやって行いく？

The travel booking is done. By the way, how are we getting to the station?

話はなし合あいはこれで終おわりです。ところで、帰かえりのバスは何なん時じですか。

That's the end of our discussion. By the way, what time is the bus back?

この件けんは後あとで詳くわしく確かく認にんしましょう。ところで、新あたらしい担たん当とう者しゃはもう決きまりましたか。

Let's go over this properly later. By the way, has the new person in charge been chosen yet?

記き事じの修しゅう正せいは完かん了りょうしました。ところで、表ひょう紙しの写しゃ真しんは届とどいていますか。

The corrections to the article are done. By the way, has the cover photo arrived?