Phrase in 30 Seconds
Use 'ところで' to gracefully pivot a conversation to a completely new topic without sounding abrupt.
- Means: 'By the way' or 'Incidentally' used as a transition.
- Used in: Casual chats, business meetings, and emails to change subjects.
- Don't confuse: Never use it to start a brand-new conversation from zero.
Explicação no seu nível:
Significado
Used to change the topic of conversation smoothly.
Contexto cultural
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.
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-se
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.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Banco de exercicios
5 exerciciosA: 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.
🎉 Pontuação: /5
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasYes, 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.
Frases relacionadas
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
Onde usar
Coffee Shop Catch-up
Friend A: このケーキ、すごくおいしいね！
Friend B: 本当だね。ところで、{来週|らいしゅう}のテストの{勉強|べんきょう}、もうやった？
Business Meeting Transition
Manager: 予算の件はこれで決まりですね。
Staff: はい。ところで、次の会議の日程はどうしましょうか？
Texting/LINE
User 1: 了解！じゃあ、また明日。
User 2: あ、ところで！宿題の範囲、どこだっけ？
First Date
Person A: 仕事はエンジニアをしています。
Person B: そうなんですね。ところで、休日は何をされているんですか？
Job Interview
Interviewer: あなたの強みはよくわかりました。
Candidate: ありがとうございます。ところで、御社の研修制度について伺ってもよろしいでしょうか？
Dinner with In-laws
Mother-in-law: 最近、お仕事はどうですか？
Son-in-law: おかげさまで順調です。ところで、お父様のご趣味の盆栽はどうですか？
Memorize
Mnemônico
Think of 'Tokoro' as a 'Place' and 'De' as 'At'. You are standing 'At a Place' in the conversation where you decide to turn a corner.
Associação visual
Imagine a train track with a switching lever. 'Tokoro de' is the lever that moves the train from the 'Current Topic' track to the 'New Topic' track.
Rhyme
When the topic is slow and you've got to go, say 'Tokoro de' and start the show!
Story
You are at a boring party talking about the price of rice. You want to talk about the cute cat you saw. You pause, say 'Tokoro de,' and suddenly the 'rice place' is gone, and you are in the 'cat place.'
In Other Languages
In English, we say 'By the way.' In French, 'À propos.' Both use the idea of being 'at' or 'near' a specific point to introduce something else.
Word Web
Desafio
Try to use 'ところで' three times today: once in a text message, once in a self-study sentence, and once in a real or imaginary conversation to change the subject from 'weather' to 'hobbies.'
Review this phrase on day 1, 3, 7, and 14. Focus on the difference between this and 'Chinami ni'.
Pronúncia
Three short, even syllables. Don't stress any of them.
A short 'de' sound like in 'desk'.
Espectro de formalidade
ところで、明日のご予定はいかがでしょうか？ (Asking about plans)
ところで、明日の予定はどうですか？ (Asking about plans)
ところで、明日何するの？ (Asking about plans)
てか、明日何すんの？ (Asking about plans)
Derived from the noun {所|ところ} (place/point) and the particle {で|で} (at/by). It literally meant 'at that point in the discourse.'
Curiosidade
The kanji for 'Tokoro' {所|ところ} shows a door {戸|と} and an axe {斤|きん}, originally meaning a place where wood is chopped!
Notas culturais
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.
“今日は暑いですね。ところで、本日の議題ですが...”
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.
“話は変わりますが、ところで...”
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.
“あ、そういえば、あの件だけど...”
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.
“（お茶を出しながら）ところで、お帰りのバスの時間は？ (Meaning: It's time to go.)”
Iniciadores de conversa
Talk about your favorite food, then use 'ところで' to ask about the other person's weekend.
Discuss a recent news event, then shift to asking for a restaurant recommendation.
In a mock business setting, finish a report on sales and transition to the next meeting time.
Erros comuns
(Walking up to a stranger) ところで、駅はどこですか？
すみません、駅はどこですか？
L1 Interference
雨が降っています。ところで、傘を持っていません。
雨が降っています。でも、傘を持っていません。
L1 Interference
勉強したところで、合格しません。
勉強したところで、合格しません。 (This is correct grammar, but it doesn't mean 'By the way'!)
L1 Interference
ところで、ところで、ところで...
ところで... さて... ちなみに...
L1 Interference
In Other Languages
By the way / Incidentally
English can use it more freely at the start of an interaction.
Por cierto / A propósito
Spanish equivalents are often placed at the end of a sentence, while 'Tokoro de' is almost always at the start.
À propos / D'ailleurs
French has more specific words for 'adding info' vs 'changing topic'.
Übrigens / Apropos
German 'Übrigens' can be tucked into the middle of a sentence.
على فكرة (ala fikra)
Arabic uses it very frequently in casual speech, even more than Japanese.
对了 (duìle) / 顺便提一下 (shùnbiàn tí yīxià)
Chinese 'Duìle' implies a sudden realization, while 'Tokoro de' is a smoother transition.
그런데 (geureonde) / 그건 그렇고 (geugeon geureohgo)
Korean has a specific 'That aside' phrase that matches the 'Tokoro de' nuance perfectly.
Por falar nisso / A propósito
Portuguese often requires a link to the previous topic.
Spotted in the Real World
“ところで、お前、俺のノートに何か書いたか？”
Taki is confused about the strange things happening and suddenly asks about the notes in the notebook.
“ところで、二人はどういう関係なの？”
The panelists are discussing the house members and pivot to a juicy question about a potential romance.
“ところで、君はレイコさんに会ったことはあるかい？”
A character transitions from general talk to asking about a specific person.
Fácil de confundir
They look almost identical (de vs ga).
Tokoro GA means 'However' (contrast). Tokoro DE means 'By the way' (topic shift).
The exact same sounds, but used as a verb suffix.
If it's after a verb, it means 'Even if.' If it's at the start of a sentence, it means 'By the way.'
Perguntas frequentes (10)
Yes, it's very common in business emails to transition between different points. However, 'さて' is also a good alternative for formal structure.
usage contextsYes, it's very rude. Wait for a pause or for the other person to finish their thought before pivoting.
cultural usage'Sou ieba' means 'Now that you mention it' (the topics are linked). 'Tokoro de' is for when the topics are NOT linked.
comparisonsYes, it is neutral and polite enough for a boss, provided you don't interrupt them.
practical tipsYes, {所で|ところで}, but it is almost always written in hiragana in modern Japanese.
grammar mechanicsConstantly! Characters use it to suddenly bring up a plot point or ask a serious question after a comedic scene.
usage contextsYes, adding 'sa' makes it more casual and friendly, like 'By the way, you know...'
practical tipsIn very casual speech, people just say 'で、' (De...) to mean 'So anyway...' or 'By the way...'
common mistakesTry to limit it to 1-2 times. Using it too much makes you seem like you can't focus on one topic.
practical tipsRarely. News anchors prefer 'さて' (Sate) or '次です' (Tsugi desu) to move between news stories.
usage contexts
