Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
In the middle of doing [action] / Right in the process of…
🎯 Primary Function
To emphasize that an action is currently in progress at a specific point in time.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb (Te-form) + いるところ
Not applicable (This pattern focuses on actions).
Not applicable (This pattern focuses on actions).
Verb (Te-form) + いないところ (Rarely used)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Commonly used in business to explain that one is currently working on a task.
Informal Situations
Used frequently with friends to explain why one is busy or what one is doing.
Written Language
Used in emails, messages, and narratives to describe specific moments of action.
Spoken Language
Very common in daily conversation.
💡 Common Applications
Explaining Current Status
Used to tell someone exactly what you are doing at this specific second.
Example: いま、じゅんびしているところです。(I’m in the middle of preparing now.)
Interruptive Contexts (using ~ni)
Used with the particle ‘ni’ to show an action was interrupted by another event.
Example: ねているところに、でんわがかかってきた。(The phone rang while I was sleeping.)
Observational Contexts (using ~o)
Used with ‘o’ when someone observes or catches someone in the middle of an action.
Example: こっそりおかしをたべているところをみつかった。(I was caught in the act of secretly eating sweets.)
Frequency
High
Difficulty
JLPT N4
Tag:
Example Sentences
Example #1
今、昼ご飯を食べているところです。
Furigana: いま、ひるごはんをたべているところです。
Romaji: Ima, hirugohan o tabete iru tokoro desu.
English: I am eating lunch right now.
Example #2
友達と電話で話しているところだ。
Furigana: ともだちとでんわではなしているところだ。
Romaji: Tomodachi to denwa de hanashite iru tokoro da.
English: I am talking to a friend on the phone.
Example #3
料理を作っているところに、客が来た。
Furigana: りょうりをつくっているところに、きゃくがきた。
Romaji: Ryouri o tsukutte iru tokoro ni, kyaku ga kita.
English: A guest arrived just as I was cooking.
Example #4
田中さんは今、資料を読んでいるところです。
Furigana: たなかさんはいま、しりょうをよんでいるところです。
Romaji: Tanaka-san wa ima, shiryou o yonde iru tokoro desu.
English: Mr. Tanaka is reading the documents right now.
Example #5
ちょうど家を出ているところでした。
Furigana: ちょうどいえをでているところでした。
Romaji: Choudo ie o dete iru tokoro deshita.
English: I was just leaving the house.
Example #6
勉強しているところを妹に見られた。
Furigana: べんきょうしているところをいもうとにみられた。
Romaji: Benkyou shite iru tokoro o imouto ni mirareta.
English: My younger sister saw me while I was studying.
Example #7
弟がゲームをしているところを注意した。
Furigana: おとうとがゲームをしているところをちゅういした。
Romaji: Otouto ga geemu o shite iru tokoro o chuui shita.
English: I warned my younger brother while he was playing games.
Example #8
電車を待っているところです。
Furigana: でんしゃをまっているところです。
Romaji: Densha o matte iru tokoro desu.
English: I am waiting for the train.
Example #9
プレゼンの準備をしているところだ。
Furigana: プレゼンのじゅんびをしているところだ。
Romaji: Purezen no junbi o shite iru tokoro da.
English: I am preparing for the presentation.
Example #10
犯人が車から降りているところを捕まえた。
Furigana: はんにんがくるまからおりているところをつかまえた。
Romaji: Hannin ga kuruma kara orite iru tokoro o tsukamaeta.
English: The police caught the criminal as he was getting out of the car.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Specific Timing
It emphasizes ‘right now’ much more strongly than just using ‘~te iru’.
Example: いま、かいているところです。
Particle Usage
The particle following ‘tokoro’ changes the meaning significantly.
Example: たべているところに (during) vs たべているところを (witnessing)
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ いま、べんきょうするところです。
✅ いま、べんきょうしているところです。
‘Iru tokoro’ requires the Te-form + iru to indicate progress.
❌ にほんにすんでいるところです。 (Incorrect for residence)
✅ けっこんしています。(State) vs けっこんしきをしているところです。(Action)
Do not use ‘tokoro’ for long-term states like marriage or residence unless you mean the specific ceremony/process.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Neutral/Polite depending on the sentence ending (da/desu).
Social Situations: Often used as a polite excuse to show that you are currently busy with something else.
Regional Variations: Standard across Japan.
🔍 Subtle Differences
~ている vs ~ているところ
~ている describes a general state or continuous action, while ~ているところ focuses on the specific moment the action is happening.
When to use: Use ~ているところ when you want to emphasize that you are ‘busy right now’ with the action.
📝 Conjugation Notes
The verb must always be in the ‘Te-iru’ form. The ‘iru’ can be dropped in very casual speech (te-ru tokoro), but ‘te-iru’ is the standard.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
The ‘iru’ is often shortened to ‘ru’ in fast speech, sounding like ‘teru tokoro’.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of ‘tokoro’ as a ‘snapshot’ or ‘photo’ of an action happening right now. It freezes the action in time.
Other Grammar
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