Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
By the way / Incidentally
🎯 Primary Function
A conjunction used to change the topic of conversation.
📋 Grammar Structure
Sentence 1。ところで (Tokoro de) + Sentence 2。
Not applicable (used as a sentence-starting conjunction).
Not applicable (used as a sentence-starting conjunction).
Not applicable (used as a sentence-starting conjunction).
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Commonly used in business or polite meetings to shift focus to a new agenda item.
Informal Situations
Used frequently with friends to bring up new news or questions.
Written Language
Used in emails and letters to introduce a new paragraph or topic.
Spoken Language
Highly prevalent in daily conversation.
💡 Common Applications
Changing the topic
Used to transition from the current topic to a completely new or slightly related one.
Example: 話は変わりますが、ところで… (The subject is changing, but by the way…)
Introducing a question
Often used to bring up an inquiry that the speaker just remembered or needs to ask despite the current flow of conversation.
Example: ところで、お名前は何とおっしゃいますか？ (By the way, what is your name?)
Frequency
Very High
Difficulty
JLPT N3
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
ところで、昨日のテストはどうでしたか？
Furigana: ところで、きじつのテストはどうでしたか？
Romaji: Tokoro de, kinou no tesuto wa dou deshita ka?
English: By the way, how was yesterday’s test?
Example #2
いい天気ですね。ところで、今週末は暇ですか？
Furigana: いいてんきですね。ところで、こんしゅうまつはひまですか？
Romaji: Ii tenki desu ne. Tokoro de, konshuumatsu wa hima desu ka?
English: It’s a nice day today. By the way, are you free this weekend?
Example #3
久しぶり！ところで、結婚したって本当？
Furigana: ひさしぶり！ところで、けっこんしたってほんとう？
Romaji: Hisashiburi! Tokoro de, kekkon shita tte hontou?
English: Long time no see! By the way, is it true you got married?
Example #4
レポートが終わりました。ところで、さっきのメールは読みましたか？
Furigana: レポートがおわりました。ところで、さっきのメールはよみましたか？
Romaji: Repo-to ga owarimashita. Tokoro de, sakki no me-ru wa yomimashita ka?
English: I’ve finished the report. By the way, did you read the email from earlier?
Example #5
料理は美味しかったです。ところで、次の電車は何時ですか？
Furigana: りょうりはおいしかったです。ところで、つぎのでんしゃはなんじですか？
Romaji: Ryouri wa oishikatta desu. Tokoro de, tsugi no densha wa nanji desu ka?
English: The meal was delicious. By the way, what time is the next train?
Example #6
ところで、最近田中さんに会いましたか？
Furigana: ところで、さいきんたなかさんにあいましたか？
Romaji: Tokoro de, saikin Tanaka-san ni aimashita ka?
English: By the way, have you met Mr. Tanaka lately?
Example #7
もう12時ですね。ところで、お腹が空きませんか？
Furigana: もうじゅうにじですね。ところで、おなかがすきませんか？
Romaji: Mou juuni-ji desu ne. Tokoro de, onaka ga sukimasen ka?
English: It’s already 12 o’clock. By the way, are you hungry?
Example #8
計画はわかりました。ところで、予算はいくらですか？
Furigana: けいかくはわかりました。ところで、よさんはいくらですか？
Romaji: Keikaku wa wakarimashita. Tokoro de, yosan wa ikura desu ka?
English: I understand the plan. By the way, what is the budget?
Example #9
あの映画は面白かったですね。ところで、宿題は終わりましたか？
Furigana: あのえいがはおもしろかったですね。ところで、しゅくだいはおわりましたか？
Romaji: Ano eiga wa omoshirokatta desu ne. Tokoro de, shukudai wa owarimashita ka?
English: That movie was interesting. By the way, did you finish your homework?
Example #10
会議はこれで終わりにしましょう。ところで、昼ご飯、どこに行きますか？
Furigana: かいぎはこれでわりにしましょう。ところで、ひるごはん、どこにいきますか？
Romaji: Kaigi wa kore de owari ni shimashou. Tokoro de, hirugohan, doko ni ikimasu ka?
English: Let’s end the meeting here. By the way, where should we go for lunch?
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Topic Transition Signal
Tokoro de is used to signal to the listener that the current topic is ending and a new one is beginning.
Example: もう遅いですね。ところで、明日の会議は何時からですか？
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ 今日は忙しい、ところで明日は？ (Incorrect usage inside a single clause flow)
✅ ところで、明日の予定は？
Tokoro de cannot be used in the middle of a sentence to connect two clauses. It must start a new sentence.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral to Polite. Safe for use in most social settings.
Social Situations: Essential for natural-sounding conversation transitions.
Regional Variations: None significant.
🔍 Subtle Differences
ところで (Tokoro de) vs. それはそうと (Sore wa sou to)
‘Sore wa sou to’ is slightly more abrupt and informal, literally meaning ‘That aside’. ‘Tokoro de’ is more standard.
When to use: Use ‘Tokoro de’ for general topic changes and ‘Sore wa sou to’ when you want to explicitly push the previous topic away.
ところで (Tokoro de) vs. 〜たところで (~ta tokoro de)
‘〜たところで’ is a grammar pattern meaning ‘even if’, while ‘ところで’ at the start of a sentence means ‘by the way’.
When to use: Do not confuse the conjunction with the conditional grammar structure.
📝 Conjugation Notes
None. It is an unchanging conjunction.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounce ‘Tokoro de’ with a slight pause after ‘de’ before starting the next sentence to give the listener time to adjust to the new topic.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of ‘Tokoro de’ as a ‘Topic Door’. You are closing one door of conversation and opening a new one.
Other Grammar
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.