connective N1 uncommon politewritten
たところで — even if (one did)
たところで
Meaning
- even if ~ / no matter how much ~ — concedes a hypothetical action but judges it futile or inconsequential
Key sentence
今から急いだところで、もう間に合わない。
Even if we hurry now, we won't make it in time anymore.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb た-form + ところで (the た is formal, not a real past) | V-た + ところで | 謝ったところで / 頼んだところで |
Examples
今さら謝ったところで、彼女は許してくれないだろう。
Even if you apologize now, she probably won't forgive you.
いくら考えたところで、答えは出てこない。
No matter how much I think about it, no answer comes.
彼に相談したところで、たいした助けにはならない。
Even if I consult him, it won't be much help.
When you can't use it
- Despite the た-form, this refers to a hypothetical, not a past event. The main clause is essentially always negative or futile — a small, pointless, or impossible result. It pairs with 今さら, いくら, どんなに.
Easily confused with
〜ても ても is the neutral 'even if,' and its result clause can be anything. たところで specifically casts the action as futile — the consequent is negative and the effort is judged not worth it. 〜たところ Same たところ shape, different particle: 〜たところ (no で) is the aspect 'just did ~ / upon ~ing' (着いたところだ 'have just arrived'). 〜たところで is the concessive 'even if ~.'
Notes
- Don't confuse with sentence-initial ところで ('by the way'), which is an unrelated topic-shift connective.
See たところで in real sentences
Jengo shows たところで the way you actually meet it: inside real Japanese sentences, so it sticks instead of staying an abstract rule.
Study it in JengoSources Compiled with reference to A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar.