JLPT N3Spoken and writtenTelling what happened

ところがbut then; as it turned out

First what everyone expected, then what really happened. ところが is the turn between them: "but then…".

天てん気き予よ報ほうでは一いち日にち中じゅう晴はれるはずだった。ところが、昼ひる過すぎから急きゅうに激はげしい雨あめが降ふり始はじめた。

The forecast said it was supposed to stay sunny all day. But then, shortly after noon, heavy rain suddenly began to fall.

How to form it

What was expected。ところが、what really happened。

It starts a new sentence.

Before it: What you expected, planned or were told: 〜と思おもっていた, 〜はずだった.
After it: What really happened, or what you found. Good news or bad. Not a request, a suggestion or a plan.
Where you'll meet it: Stories, essays, news features, speeches. In conversation, when someone is telling you what happened to them.

In use

人にん気きの店みせなので、一いち時じ間かんは待まつ覚かく悟ごだった。ところが、ちょうど席せきが空あき、すぐに入はいれた。

Because it was a popular restaurant, I was prepared to wait an hour. But then a table opened up at just the right moment, and we got in immediately.

荷に物もつは今日きょう届とどくと連れん絡らくを受うけていた。ところが、夕ゆう方がたになっても配はい達たつされなかった。

I had been told that the package would arrive today. But evening came, and it still had not been delivered.

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.

Two things to know

No surprise, no ところが

English "however" can also set two plain facts side by side. ところが can't. Something has to turn out differently.

Sounds odd: 家や賃ちんは安やすいです。ところが、駅えきから遠とおいです。

The rent is low. However, it is far from the station.

Two sides of the same apartment, and nothing unexpected. Say しかし or でも.

As a reply: "you'd think so, but…"

When someone guesses wrong about how things went, ところが opens the correction.

A

新あたらしいパソコン、速はやいでしょう。

Your new computer must be fast.

B

ところが、前まえのより遅おそいんですよ。

You'd think so, but it's slower than my old one.

Close neighbours

しかしN5

Any "however": two facts, two opinions, a limit on what was just said. No surprise needed.

家や賃ちんは安やすいです。しかし、駅えきから遠とおいです。

The rent is low. However, it is far from the station.

それなのにN2

Also a broken expectation, but with a grievance: it shouldn't have been this way. ところが just reports the turn.

確かく認にんのメールを二に度ど送おくった。それなのに、予よ約やくは入はいっていなかった。

I sent two confirmation emails. And yet, the reservation had not been recorded.

ところでN3

One kana apart and nothing alike: "by the way". It changes the subject.

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?

たところN2

If your ところが or ところ comes straight after a verb in the た-form, in the middle of a sentence, it is this one: "when I did…, I found…".

試ためしに窓まどを少すこし開あけたところ、室しつ温おんがすぐに下さがった。

When I tried opening the window a little, the room temperature quickly fell.

Check yourself

1Which one fits?

十じゅっ分ぷんで着つくはずだった。（　　）、道みちが混こんでいて一いち時じ間かんもかかった。

Choose an answer to see why.

2Which sounds natural?

Choose an answer to see why.

More sentences

古ふるくて小ちいさなホテルだったので、あまり期き待たいしていなかった。ところが、部屋へやは清せい潔けつで、サービスもすばらしかった。

Because it was an old, small hotel, I was not expecting much. But as it turned out, the room was clean and the service was excellent.

試し験けんは難むずかしく、合ごう格かくは無む理りだと思おもっていた。ところが、結けっ果かを見みると、予よ想そうより高たかい点てんを取とっていた。

The exam was difficult, and I thought I had no chance of passing. But when I saw the results, I had scored higher than expected.

会かい場じょうは空すいていると思おもっていた。ところが、着ついてみると長ながい列れつができていた。

I thought the venue would be quiet. But when I got there, there was a long line.

新あたらしい機き械かいなら作さ業ぎょうが早はやく終おわるはずだった。ところが、不ふ具ぐ合あいが続つづき、以い前ぜんより時じ間かんがかかった。

The new machine was supposed to help us finish the work sooner. Instead, problems kept occurring, and it took longer than before.

Compared with similar forms

Ways to say "but"