Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
However / But / On the contrary / Surprisingly
🎯 Primary Function
To introduce a sentence that describes an outcome or state that is contrary to expectations or predictions made in the previous sentence.
📋 Grammar Structure
[Sentence 1 (Action/Prediction)]. ところが、 [Sentence 2 (Unexpected outcome)].
[Sentence 1 (Expected state)]. ところが、 [Sentence 2 (Actual contrary result)].
[Sentence 1 (Expected state)]. ところが、 [Sentence 2 (Actual contrary result)].
[Sentence 1 (Expected state)]. ところが、 [Sentence 2 (Negative unexpected result)].
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Used in formal reports or speeches to highlight a reversal of fortune or unexpected data results.
Informal Situations
Commonly used when telling stories or gossiping about things that didn’t go as planned.
Written Language
Common in novels, news articles, and essays to create a transition between expectation and reality.
Spoken Language
Frequent in conversation, often used with a tone of surprise or disappointment.
💡 Common Applications
Expressing Surprise
Used when the reality is significantly different from your initial assumption.
Example: I thought the food would be bad. However, it was delicious!
Narrative Plot Twists
Common in storytelling to introduce an unexpected turn of events.
Example: The hero reached the castle. However, the princess was gone.
Explaining Failures despite Effort
Used to highlight that despite a certain action, the expected result did not follow.
Example: I practiced every day. However, I lost the match.
Frequency
High (especially in storytelling and explaining personal experiences)
Difficulty
JLPT N3
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Example Sentences
Example #1
今日は雨が降ると思っていました。ところが、いい天気になりました。
Furigana: きょうはあめがふるとおもっていました。ところが、いいてんきになりました。
Romaji: Kyou wa ame ga furu to omotte imashita. Tokoroga, ii tenki ni narimashita.
English: I thought it would rain today. However, it became a beautiful sunny day.
Example #2
試験のために一生懸命勉強しました。ところが、結果はよくありませんでした。
Furigana: しけんのためにいっしょうけんめいべんきょうしました。ところが、けっかはよくありませんでした。
Romaji: Shiken no tame ni isshoukenmei benkyou shimashita. Tokoroga, kekka wa yoku arimasen deshita.
English: I studied very hard for the exam. However, the result was bad.
Example #3
わざわざそのレストランへ行きました。ところが、休みでした。
Furigana: わざわざそのレストランへいきました。ところが、やすみでした。
Romaji: Wazawaza sono resutoran e ikimashita. Tokoroga, yasumi deshita.
English: I went all the way to the restaurant. However, it was closed.
Example #4
彼は大人しい人だと思っていました。ところが、実はおしゃべりな人でした。
Furigana: かれはおとなしいひとだと思っていました。ところが、じつはおしゃべりなひとでした。
Romaji: Kare wa otonashii hito da to omotte imashita. Tokoroga, jitsu wa oshaberi na hito deshita.
English: I thought he was a quiet person. However, he is actually very talkative.
Example #5
チケットは安いと思っていました。ところが、意外と高かったです。
Furigana: チケットはやすいとおもっていました。ところが、いがいとたかかったです。
Romaji: Chiketto wa yasui to omotte imashita. Tokoroga, igai to takakatta desu.
English: I thought the ticket would be cheap. However, it was unexpectedly expensive.
Example #6
駅まで走りました。ところが、電車はもう出てしまった後でした。
Furigana: えきまで走りました。ところが、でんしゃはもうでてしまったあとでした。
Romaji: Eki made hashirimashita. Tokoroga, densha wa mou dete shimatta ato deshita.
English: I ran to the station. However, the train had already left.
Example #7
みんなその映画は面白いと言っていました。ところが、私は全然面白くありませんでした。
Furigana: みんなそのえいがはおもしろいといっていました。ところが、わたしはぜんぜんおもしろくありませんでした。
Romaji: Minna sono eiga wa omoshiroi to itte imashita. Tokoroga, watashi wa zenzen omoshiroku arimasen deshita.
English: Everyone said the movie was interesting. However, I didn’t find it interesting at all.
Example #8
貯金しているつもりでした。ところが、旅行ですべて使ってしまいました。
Furigana: ちょきんしているつもりでした。ところが、りょこうですべてつかってしまいました。
Romaji: Chokin shite iru tsumori deshita. Tokoroga, ryokou de subete tsukatte shimaimashita.
English: I thought I had saved money. However, I spent it all on my trip.
Example #9
その仕事に就職を希望しました。ところが、不採用になりました。
Furigana: そのしごとにしゅうしょくをきぼうしました。ところが、ふさいようになりました。
Romaji: Sono shigoto ni shuushoku o kibou shimashita. Tokoroga, fusaiyou ni narimashita.
English: I applied for the job. However, I was rejected.
Example #10
パーティーにはたくさんの人が来ると予想していました。ところが、三人しか来ませんでした。
Furigana: パーティーにはたくさんのひとがくるとよそうしていました。ところが、さんにんしかきませんでした。
Romaji: Paatii ni wa takusan no hito ga kuru to yosou shite imashita. Tokoroga, sannin shika kimasen deshita.
English: I expected many people to come to the party. However, only three people showed up.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Must be a factual reversal.
The second sentence MUST contain a fact or event that already happened, not a command, request, or intention.
Example: 晴れると思った。ところが、雨が降った。 (I thought it would be sunny. However, it rained.)
Not for commands or suggestions.
You cannot use ‘tokoroga’ to connect commands or subjective opinions about the future.
Example: x 勉強しろ、ところが、するな。
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ リンゴは好きです。ところが、バナナは嫌いです。
✅ リンゴは好きですが、バナナは嫌いです。 (I like apples, but I hate bananas.)
‘Tokoroga’ is for unexpected results, not for simple comparisons or contrasts.
❌ お金がない。ところが、買えない。
✅ お金がない。だから、買えない。 (I don’t have money. Therefore, I can’t buy it.)
‘Tokoroga’ cannot be used for logical consequences; it must be a reversal.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral. It can be used in both polite (desu/masu) and casual settings.
Social Situations: Often used when sharing personal anecdotes that have a ‘twist’ or a surprising ending.
Regional Variations: Standard Japanese. No major regional variations.
🔍 Subtle Differences
ところが (tokoroga) vs. しかし (shikashi)
‘Shikashi’ is a general ‘but’ for any contrast. ‘Tokoroga’ is specifically for ‘unexpected’ results.
When to use: Use ‘tokoroga’ when you want to sound surprised or highlight a subverted expectation.
ところが (tokoroga) vs. それなのに (sorenanoni)
‘Sorenanoni’ often carries a feeling of ‘despite that’ with a hint of complaint or emotion. ‘Tokoroga’ focuses more on the objective surprise of the fact.
When to use: Use ‘sorenanoni’ when you feel something is unfair or shouldn’t have happened.
📝 Conjugation Notes
‘Tokoroga’ is a conjunction (setsuzokushi). It does not conjugate. It always appears at the beginning of the second sentence or clause after a full stop.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
The ‘ga’ at the end is often emphasized slightly to signal the upcoming surprise.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of ‘Tokoroga’ as the Japanese version of ‘But wait!’ or ‘To my surprise…’ It marks a 180-degree turn from what you just said.
Other Grammar
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