connective N3 common casualpolitewritten
ところが — however
ところが
Builds on ところ
Meaning
- however / but to my surprise — the result turns out contrary to what was expected
Key sentence
簡単だと思っていた。ところが、実際はとても難しかった。
I thought it would be easy. However, it was actually very hard.
Formation
| Attaches to | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Sentence-initial connective | [Sentence]. ところが、[unexpected result] | …と思った。ところが、… |
Examples
急いで駅に向かった。ところが、電車はもう出た後だった。
I hurried to the station. But the train had already left.
晴れる予報だった。ところが、午後から大雨になった。
The forecast was for clear skies. However, it poured from the afternoon.
Easily confused with
しかし しかし is a neutral 'however' for any contrast. ところが specifically marks a SURPRISING, contrary-to-expectation turn — and always about something that actually happened, not a hypothetical. ところで Same ところ root, different job: ところが links to an unexpected result; ところで changes the topic ('by the way') or marks a futile concession ('even if').
See ところが in real sentences
Jengo shows ところが 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.