Signification
Used to change the topic of conversation smoothly.
Contexte culturel
In business, 'Tokoro de' is used to transition from 'Eisatsu' (greetings/small talk) to the 'Hondai' (main business). It signals that the social phase is over. Using 'Tokoro de' is a way to respect the other person's time. It signals a change so they aren't caught off guard by a sudden question. While 'Tokoro de' is gender-neutral, men might sometimes use 'それはそうと' for a more rugged shift, while women might use 'あ、そういえば' for a softer one. In Kyoto, a sudden 'Tokoro de' might be used to politely steer a conversation away from a topic the speaker finds too direct or intrusive.
The Comma is Key
Always pause slightly after saying 'Tokoro de' to give your listener time to switch gears.
Don't Start with It
Never use it as the first word of a conversation. It needs a 'hook' from a previous topic.
Signification
Used to change the topic of conversation smoothly.
The Comma is Key
Always pause slightly after saying 'Tokoro de' to give your listener time to switch gears.
Don't Start with It
Never use it as the first word of a conversation. It needs a 'hook' from a previous topic.
The 'Escape' Move
If a conversation gets awkward, use 'Tokoro de' to pivot to a safe topic like the weather or food.
Softening the Blow
In formal writing, use '話は変わりますが' (hanashi wa kawarimasu ga) instead for a more professional feel.
Teste-toi
Choose the most natural word to fill the blank.
A: 今日はいい天気ですね。 B: そうですね。____、お名前は何ですか？
The speaker is changing the topic from the weather to the person's name, so 'Tokoro de' is the best fit.
Complete the dialogue using 'ところで'.
田中：昨日のサッカー、見た？ 佐藤：見たよ！すごかったね。 田中：(Change topic to lunch): ________________
The speaker wants to pivot from soccer to lunch.
Match the transition word to the situation.
You want to add a small, related detail to what you just said.
'Chinami ni' is used for related incidental info, while 'Tokoro de' is for unrelated shifts.
Fill in the blank with the correct form.
会議はこれで終わります。____、次の日程を確認しましょう。
In writing, 'Tokoro de' is almost always followed by a comma.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesA: 今日はいい天気ですね。 B: そうですね。____、お名前は何ですか？
The speaker is changing the topic from the weather to the person's name, so 'Tokoro de' is the best fit.
田中：昨日のサッカー、見た？ 佐藤：見たよ！すごかったね。 田中：(Change topic to lunch): ________________
The speaker wants to pivot from soccer to lunch.
You want to add a small, related detail to what you just said.
'Chinami ni' is used for related incidental info, while 'Tokoro de' is for unrelated shifts.
会議はこれで終わります。____、次の日程を確認しましょう。
In writing, 'Tokoro de' is almost always followed by a comma.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, it's very common in business emails to transition between different points. However, 'さて' is also a good alternative for formal structure.
Yes, it's very rude. Wait for a pause or for the other person to finish their thought before pivoting.
'Sou ieba' means 'Now that you mention it' (the topics are linked). 'Tokoro de' is for when the topics are NOT linked.
Yes, it is neutral and polite enough for a boss, provided you don't interrupt them.
Yes, {所で|ところで}, but it is almost always written in hiragana in modern Japanese.
Constantly! Characters use it to suddenly bring up a plot point or ask a serious question after a comedic scene.
Yes, adding 'sa' makes it more casual and friendly, like 'By the way, you know...'
In very casual speech, people just say 'で、' (De...) to mean 'So anyway...' or 'By the way...'
Try to limit it to 1-2 times. Using it too much makes you seem like you can't focus on one topic.
Rarely. News anchors prefer 'さて' (Sate) or '次です' (Tsugi desu) to move between news stories.
Expressions liées
さて
similarNow then / Well
ちなみに
similarBy the way / Incidentally
それはそうと
synonymThat aside
話は変わりますが
specialized formChanging the subject...
そういえば
similarSpeaking of which / Now that you mention it
