Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
Primarily indicates two things: 1. The result or finding after performing an action, or 2. An action or event that happens immediately after another.
🎯 Primary Function
To connect two clauses, showing either the specific consequence (finding) of the first action or the timing of the second action right after the first.
📋 Grammar Structure
動詞のた形 + ところ
N/A (Connects to a verb’s past form)
N/A (Connects to a verb’s past form)
動詞のなかった形 + ところ (Less common, but possible)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Appropriate when reporting results of investigations, procedures, or research findings in a professional setting.
Informal Situations
Common in daily conversation when sharing personal experiences, discoveries, or findings with friends.
Written Language
Used in reports, essays, formal explanations, and narratives.
Spoken Language
Very common in conversation, especially when recounting events or reporting outcomes.
💡 Common Applications
Reporting a Finding or Result
Used to say “When I tried/did [Action], I found/it turned out [Result].” This often implies a discovery or consequence from the initial action.
Example: 上司に相談したところ、快く手伝ってくれることになりました。
Indicating Immediate Consequence/Timing
Used to describe an action that occurs right after another, often translating to “Just as soon as…” or “Immediately after…”
Example: 部屋に入ったところ、電話が鳴り始めました。
Frequency
Medium to High (Essential for natural conversation and reporting)
Difficulty
Intermediate (JLPT N4-N3)
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
警察に電話したところ、すぐ来てくれました。
Furigana: けいさつにでんわしたところ、すぐきてくれました。
Romaji: Keisatsu ni denwa shita tokoro, sugu kite kuremashita.
English: When I called the police, they came right away. (Result/Finding)
Example #2
病院で検査を受けたところ、異常は見つかりませんでした。
Furigana: びょういんでけんさをうけたところ、いじょうはみつかりませんでした。
Romaji: Byōin de kensa o uketa tokoro, ijō wa mitsukarimasen deshita.
English: When I received the results of the examination at the hospital, no abnormality was found. (Result/Finding)
Example #3
新しいレシピでケーキを焼いたところ、とてもおいしくできました。
Furigana: あたらしいレシピでケーキをやいたところ、とてもおいしくできました。
Romaji: Atarashii reshipi de kēki o yaita tokoro, totemo oishiku dekimashita.
English: When I tried baking a cake with the new recipe, it turned out very delicious. (Result/Finding)
Example #4
電車を降りたところ、雨が激しく降ってきました。
Furigana: でんしゃをおりたところ、あめがはげしくふってきました。
Romaji: Densha o orita tokoro, ame ga hageshiku futte kimashita.
English: Immediately after getting off the train, the rain started to fall heavily. (Immediate Action)
Example #5
上司に相談したところ、快く手伝ってくれることになりました。
Furigana: じょうしにそうだんしたところ、こころよくてつだってくれることになりました。
Romaji: Jōshi ni sōdan shita tokoro, kokoroyoku tetsudatte kureru koto ni narimashita.
English: When I consulted with my boss, he kindly agreed to help me. (Result/Finding)
Example #6
鍵を開けたところ、猫が飛び出してきました。
Furigana: かぎをあけたところ、ねこがとびだしてきました。
Romaji: Kagi o aketa tokoro, neko ga tobideshite kimashita.
English: Immediately after opening the door, the cat jumped out. (Immediate Action)
Example #7
インターネットで調べたところ、その情報は間違いだとわかりました。
Furigana: インターネットでしらべたところ、そのじょうほうはまちがいだとわかりました。
Romaji: Intānetto de shirabeta tokoro, sono jōhō wa machigai da to wakarimashita.
English: When I looked it up on the internet, I found that the information was incorrect. (Result/Finding)
Example #8
窓を開けたところ、涼しい風が入ってきました。
Furigana: まどをあけたところ、すずしいかぜがはいってきました。
Romaji: Mado o aketa tokoro, suzushii kaze ga haitte kimashita.
English: Immediately after opening the window, a cool breeze came in. (Immediate Action/Finding)
Example #9
彼女に正直に謝ったところ、許してくれました。
Furigana: かのじょにしょうじきにあやまったところ、ゆるしてくれました。
Romaji: Kanojo ni shōjiki ni ayamatta tokoro, yurushite kuremashita.
English: When I honestly apologized to her, she forgave me. (Result/Finding)
Example #10
約束の時間に彼の家を訪ねたところ、彼は留守でした。
Furigana: やくそくのじかんにかれのいえをたずねたところ、かれはるすでした。
Romaji: Yakusoku no jikan ni kare no ie o tazuneta tokoro, kare wa rusu deshita.
English: I visited his house at the promised time, but he wasn’t home. (Result/Finding)
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Focus on a past, completed action.
The action preceding “たところ” must be a completed action (hence the *ta*-form). It sets the stage for the result or subsequent event.
Example: 連絡したところ、すぐ返事が来た。
Context determines the meaning: Result vs. Immediate Timing.
The meaning depends on the context: Result/Finding (often involving discovering something new) or Immediate Timing (something happened right after the first action).
Example: インターネットで調べたところ、情報が古かった。(Result) / 家を出たところ、雨が降り出した。(Immediate Action)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using the dictionary form (e.g., 電話するところ).
✅ 動詞のた形 + ところ (e.g., 電話したところ)
The pattern strictly requires the past (た) form because it refers to an action that has already been performed, leading to a result or immediate follow-up. Using the dictionary form (する) or plain non-past form is incorrect for this meaning.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral to Polite. The politeness is determined by the final verb (e.g., 電話したところ、すぐに来てくれました).
Social Situations: Ideal for sharing specific experiences, especially when describing a successful attempt, a discovery, or an immediate turn of events.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese; universally understood.
🔍 Subtle Differences
たところ vs. と
「と」 (to) is used for general, predictable results or natural consequences. 「たところ」 is used for a specific, single past instance and often conveys a finding or discovery that wasn’t necessarily expected.
When to use: Use 「たところ」 when reporting the specific, one-time outcome or finding of a particular attempt or action.
たところ vs. たばかり
「たばかり」 (ta bakari) means “just finished doing X,” emphasizing the recency of the action. 「たところ」 means “right after doing X” (immediate timing) or “as a result of doing X” (finding).
When to use: Use 「たばかり」 to emphasize that the action is very recent. Use 「たところ」 to emphasize the result or the precise moment the subsequent event occurred.
📝 Conjugation Notes
The particle が or は can sometimes follow ところ, but this pattern most commonly functions adverbially without a particle, connecting the clauses directly.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounce ところ with a light stress on the second syllable (to-KORO). The connection with the preceding verb should be smooth, like a single phrase.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of ところ as ‘the point/moment.’ 「たところ」 is “at the point of having done X,” which logically leads to either the result of X or the immediate next moment.
Other Grammar
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