Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
By the way, incidentally, speaking of which.
🎯 Primary Function
To introduce a piece of related but secondary or tangential information that just came to mind or adds extra detail to the current topic. It helps to transition smoothly to a related point without abruptly changing the subject.
📋 Grammar Structure
ちなみに + [Sentence/Clause providing related information]
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Less common, but can be used cautiously in relatively relaxed business settings. Avoid in highly formal speeches or documents.
Informal Situations
Very common in casual conversations among friends, family, and colleagues.
Written Language
Used in informal writing like emails to friends, personal blogs, social media. Less frequent in formal writing.
Spoken Language
Extremely common in everyday spoken Japanese.
💡 Common Applications
Adding extra details or facts.
Use ちなみに to provide additional information that is relevant to what was just discussed.
Example: 今度、東京に行くんだけど、ちなみに東京タワーのライトアップって何時まで？ (I’m going to Tokyo next time, by the way, until what time is Tokyo Tower lit up?)
Making a related side comment.
Introduce a related point that isn’t the main focus but is worth mentioning.
Example: この前見た映画、すごく面白かったよ。ちなみに、主演の俳優さんが歌も上手いんだって。(The movie I saw the other day was really interesting. Incidentally, I heard the lead actor is also good at singing.)
Slightly shifting the topic.
While the new topic is related, ちなみに can signal a slight shift from the immediate subject to a related one.
Example: 最近、健康のためにジョギングを始めたんだ。ちなみに、近所に新しいスポーツジムができたらしいよ。(Recently, I started jogging for my health. By the way, it seems a new sports gym opened near my house.)
Frequency
Very frequent in everyday conversation and informal communication.
Difficulty
Intermediate to Advanced (N3-N2). Understanding is easy, but natural usage in various contexts requires practice.
Example Sentences
昨日、山田さんに会ったよ。ちなみに、山田さんも来週のパーティーに行くって言ってた。
I met Yamada-san yesterday. By the way, Yamada-san also said they are going to next week’s party.
このレストラン、すごく美味しいね。ちなみに、この近くにもう一つ人気のラーメン屋さんがあるんだ。
This restaurant is really delicious, isn’t it? Incidentally, there’s another popular ramen shop near here.
留学することにしたんだ。ちなみに、来年の春からだよ。
I decided to study abroad. By the way, it’s starting next spring.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Relevance is key.
The information introduced by ちなみに should have some connection to the previous topic, even if minor or a free association. It shouldn’t be a completely unrelated topic shift.
Example: We were talking about movies. Saying “ちなみに、富士山は日本で一番高い山です” (By the way, Mt. Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan) would feel unnatural unless there’s a very specific, unspoken link.
Used for supplementary information.
The information following ちなみに is typically secondary, not the main point of conversation.
Example: (Talking about planning a trip) “ホテルは予約しました。ちなみに、飛行機のチケットはまだです。” (I booked the hotel. By the way, I haven’t got the plane tickets yet.) – The main point is booking the hotel; the ticket info is supplementary.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using it to introduce a completely unrelated topic.
✅ Use ところで (tokorode) for abrupt topic changes, or ensure the information introduced by ちなみに has some link.
ちなみに implies a connection, however loose. A sudden, unrelated topic needs a different transition.
❌ Using it in highly formal situations.
✅ In very formal contexts, avoid ちなみに. Rephrase to integrate the information more formally or skip the side comment.
ちなみに has a slightly informal or conversational feel.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Generally casual to polite conversation. Not suitable for very high-level formality (e.g., addressing a superior in a formal business meeting or writing a formal letter).
Social Situations: Used among peers, friends, family, and in relaxed professional settings.
Regional Variations: The usage is standard across Japan.
🔍 Subtle Differences
ちなみに vs. ところで (tokorode)
ちなみに introduces related or supplementary information. ところで introduces a significant topic change, often unrelated or loosely related to the *start* of the conversation, not just the immediately preceding sentence.
When to use: Use ちなみに for side comments or adding details about the current topic. Use ところで when you want to shift the conversation to something new.
ちなみに vs. そういえば (sou ieba)
そういえば means “now that you mention it,” used when the current conversation *reminds* you of something else. ちなみに is less dependent on being reminded by the preceding statement; it can just be something you think of that’s related.
When to use: Use そういえば when the previous topic triggered a memory. Use ちなみに when you have related info to add, regardless of whether you were specifically reminded.
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📝 Conjugation Notes
ちなみに is an adverbial expression, it doesn’t conjugate.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
Pronounced ち・な・み・に (chi-na-mi-ni), with relatively flat intonation.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of it as adding a “by-the-way” note to the conversation, like a footnote. The “ちな” part sounds a bit like “china” which doesn’t help meaning, maybe focus on “みに” (mini) – adding something “mini” or extra? Or just remember it as a fixed phrase.
Practice Exercises
Choose the most appropriate word to fill in the blank. 今日のテスト、難しかったね。＿＿＿、明日は数学のテストがあるよ。(Today’s test was difficult, wasn’t it? ___, there’s a math test tomorrow.)
ところで
だから
ちなみに
そして
What nuance does ちなみに add in the following sentence? 今度、大阪に行くんだ。ちなみに、たこ焼き、すごく美味しいらしいよ。(I’m going to Osaka next time. By the way, it seems takoyaki is really delicious.)
It introduces a completely new topic.
It provides additional, related information.
It shows the speaker is changing their mind.
It indicates a cause and effect.
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