connective N3 common casualpolitewritten
ところで — by the way (topic shift)
ところで
Builds on ところ
Meaning
① by the way (topic shift): by the way / incidentally — sets the current topic aside to raise a new one
② even if (futile): even if ~ / no matter ~ — concedes the action but says it won't change anything
Key sentence
① by the way (topic shift)
ところで、来週の予定はもう決まった？
By the way, have next week's plans been decided yet?
② even if (futile)
今から急いだところで、もう間に合わない。
Even if you hurry now, you won't make it in time.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Sentence-initial (topic shift) or past-tense verb (futility) | ところで、[new topic] / V(た) + ところで | ところで、… / 行ったところで… |
Examples
① by the way (topic shift)
ところで、お父さんの具合はどうですか。
By the way, how is your father doing?
② even if (futile)
いくら謝ったところで、許してはもらえないだろう。
No matter how much you apologize, you probably won't be forgiven.
Easily confused with
See ところで in real sentences
Jengo shows 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 Advanced Japanese Grammar. Editorial confidence: medium.