Japanese Grammar: Mastering “Tokoro” (ところ)

Japanese Grammar: Mastering “Tokoro” (ところ)
Meaning & Usage

✨ Basic Meaning

‘Tokoro’ (ところ) literally means ‘place’, but as a grammar point, it functions to indicate a specific stage or point in time of an action.

🎯 Primary Function

To describe the specific timing or stage of a verb’s action (aspect).

📋 Grammar Structure

V-dictionary form + ところ (About to) / V-teiru + ところ (Middle of) / V-ta + ところ (Just finished)
Not typically used with i-adjectives in this aspectual sense.
Not typically used with na-adjectives in this aspectual sense.
V-dictionary form + ところではない (meaning ‘not in a situation to do X’)

🎭 Usage Contexts

🏢 Formal Situations

Common in business reports to indicate progress (e.g., ‘Currently investigating’).

😊 Informal Situations

Used daily to explain why you can’t talk (‘I’m just eating’) or that you’ve just arrived.

✍️ Written Language

Used in emails and narrative writing to set the scene of an action.

🗣️ Spoken Language

Extremely common in phone conversations and quick updates.

💡 Common Applications

V-dictionary form + ところ
Indicates that an action is about to happen in the very near future.
Example: これから出かけるところです。 (I’m just about to go out.)
V-teiru form + ところ
Emphasizes that the subject is currently in the middle of performing an action.
Example: 今調べているところです。 (I’m in the middle of looking it up right now.)
V-ta form + ところ
Indicates that an action has been completed very recently.
Example: たった今帰ってきたところです。 (I have only just now returned home.)
📊
Frequency
Very High
🎚️
Difficulty
JLPT N4
Example Sentences
Example #1
今からご飯を食べるところです。
Furigana: いまからごはんをたべるところです。
Romaji: Ima kara gohan o taberu tokoro desu.
English: I am about to have a meal now.
Example #2
今宿題をしているところです。
Furigana: いましゅくだいをしているところです。
Romaji: Ima shukudai o shite iru tokoro desu.
English: I am currently doing my homework.
Example #3
会議が終わったところです。
Furigana: かいぎがおわったところです。
Romaji: Kaigi ga owatta tokoro desu.
English: The meeting has just finished.
Example #4
ちょうど家を出るところでした。
Furigana: ちょうどいえをでるところでした。
Romaji: Choudo ie o deru tokoro deshita.
English: I was just about to leave the house.
Example #5
お風呂に入っているところに電話が鳴った。
Furigana: おふろにはいっているところになにわがなった。
Romaji: Ofuro ni haitte iru tokoro ni denwa ga natta.
English: The phone rang just as I was taking a bath.
Example #6
さっき起きたところです。
Furigana: さっきおきたところです。
Romaji: Sakki okita tokoro desu.
English: I just woke up a moment ago.
Example #7
今、資料を作っているところなので、少し待ってください。
Furigana: いま、しりょうをつくっているところなので、すこしまってください。
Romaji: Ima, shiryou o tsukutte iru tokoro na node, sukoshi matte kudasai.
English: I’m making the documents now, so please wait a moment.
Example #8
バスが駅に着いたところです。
Furigana: バスがえきについたところです。
Romaji: Basu ga eki ni tsuita tokoro desu.
English: The bus has just arrived at the station.
Example #9
ちょうどあなたに電話をかけようとしていたところです。
Furigana: ちょうどあなたにでんわをかけようとしていたところです。
Romaji: Choudo anata ni denwa o kakeyou to shite ita tokoro desu.
English: I was just about to call you.
Example #10
料理ができたところだから、食べよう。
Furigana: りょうりができたところだから、たべよう。
Romaji: Ryouri ga dekita tokoro dakara, tabeyou.
English: The food is just ready, so let’s eat.
Notes & Nuances

📌 Important Points

Emphasis on Momentary Action
‘V-teiru tokoro’ is more specific than just ‘V-teiru’. It emphasizes ‘exactly at this moment’.
Example: 今、勉強しているところです。
Difference between ~ta tokoro and ~ta bakari
‘Tokoro’ implies a much shorter time since completion than ‘bakari’. ‘Tokoro’ is seconds or minutes; ‘bakari’ can be days or months.
Example: 食べたところ (Just finished) vs 食べたばかり (Just finished a while ago)

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ さっき起きるところです。 (Incorrect use of tense)
✅ さっき起きたところです。 (Sakki okita tokoro desu.)
‘Tokoro’ must follow the ‘Ta-form’ to mean ‘just finished’. Using the dictionary form would mean ‘about to wake up’.

🏛️ Cultural Context

Politeness Level: Neutral. Can be used with ‘desu’ for politeness or ‘da’ in casual speech.
Social Situations: Useful for politely declining requests by explaining you are in the middle of something.
Regional Variations: Standard across Japan.

🔍 Subtle Differences

V-teiru vs V-teiru tokoro
‘V-teiru’ is a general state; ‘V-teiru tokoro’ is the literal moment of action.
When to use: Use ‘tokoro’ when someone asks ‘What are you doing RIGHT now?’

📝 Conjugation Notes

The particle following ‘tokoro’ changes based on the rest of the sentence (e.g., ‘tokoro desu’ for a statement, ‘tokoro ni’ when interrupted by another event).

🔊 Pronunciation Tips

When followed by ‘desu’, the ‘o’ in ‘tokoro’ is often short and clear. Avoid dragging out the vowel.

🧠 Memory Tips

Think of ‘tokoro’ as a snapshot or a ‘spot’ on a timeline. The verb form tells you where that spot is relative to the action: before (dictionary), during (teiru), or after (ta).

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