Translation and Meaning of: 所で - tokorode

If you are studying Japanese or have an interest in the language, you may have come across the word 所で (ところで). It frequently appears in conversations and texts, but its meaning and usage can raise questions. In this article, we will explore what this expression represents, how it is used in everyday life, and what its cultural nuances are. Additionally, we will understand why it is so common and how to memorize it efficiently.

Meaning and use of ところで

The word ところで (tokoro de) is a conjunctive expression that functions as a topic change marker. In English, it can be translated as "by the way" or "incidentally." It is often used to introduce a new topic in a conversation, especially when the speaker wants to shift away from a previous subject or bring something relevant in a natural way.

An interesting detail is that ところで is not just a casual connective. Its use reflects the delicacy of Japanese communication, where smooth transitions are valued. Instead of abruptly cutting off a dialogue, Japanese speakers prefer to use this expression to maintain fluency. This illustrates how the language is connected to a culture of harmony and respect.

Origin and structure of the word

The origin of ところで is directly related to the kanji 所 (tokoro), which means "place" or "local." When combined with the particle で (de), the expression takes on a more abstract sense, indicating a transition of "place" in the conversation. This construction is an example of how Japanese uses spatial terms for temporal and discourse concepts.

It is worth noting that ところで is not the only way to change the subject in Japanese, but it is one of the most neutral and versatile. Unlike expressions like それはそうと (sore wa sō to), which also introduce new topics, ところで sounds more natural in everyday situations. This neutrality makes it one of the favorites in informal dialogues and even in some professional contexts.

Tips for memorizing and using correctly

An effective way to reinforce ところで is to associate it with moments when you change the subject in Portuguese. Think of situations where you say "oh, speaking of which..." or "by the way...". These are the perfect equivalents for applying the Japanese expression. Practicing with real examples helps to internalize its use effortlessly.

Another valuable tip is to pay attention to dialogues in doramas, animes, or podcasts in Japanese. Since ところで is quite common, you will soon start identifying it in various contexts. Repeating these phrases mentally reinforces memorization and also teaches the correct intonation, which is essential to sound natural.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• ところで - By the way
• それで - So, that's why
• そういえば - Speaking of that, by the way
• ちなみに - By the way, for that matter
• ところが - On the other hand, however
• しかも - Moreover, and on top of that
• それに - Furthermore, in addition
• それから - And then, afterwards
• そのうえ - Moreover, on top of that
• その後 - After that, next
• そのため - Because of this, for this reason
• そのために - For this purpose, for such an end
• そのかわり - In exchange for this, on the other hand
• その反面 - On the other hand, in contrast
• その結果 - As a result, consequence of this
• そのためには - For that (keeping this in mind)
• そのためにも - For this (also considering this)

所で

Romaji: tokorode
Kana: ところで
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3, jlpt-n1

Translation / Meaning: by the way; even if; no matter what

Meaning in English: by the way;even if;no matter what

Definition: Something about a place or location.

Example Sentences - (所で) tokorode

See below some example sentences:

農村は自然に囲まれた素晴らしい場所です。

Nōson wa shizen ni kakomareta subarashii basho desu

Rural areas are wonderful places surrounded by nature.

Rural is a wonderful place surrounded by nature.

• 農村 - It means "rural village" in Japanese.
• は - Grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence.
• 自然 - Means "nature" in Japanese.
• に - grammatical particle that indicates the relationship of something to something else.
• 囲まれた - past form of the verb "囲む" which means "to surround".
• 素晴らしい - means "wonderful" or "splendid" in Japanese.
• 場所 - means "place" in Japanese.
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form.

石炭は火力発電所で使われる重要なエネルギー源です。

Ishitan wa karyoku hatsudensho de tsukawareru juuyou na enerugii gen desu

Coal is an important source of energy used in thermal power plants.

Coal is an important source of energy used in thermal power plants.

• 石炭 (sekitan) - coal
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 火力発電所 (karyoku hatsudensho) - power plant
• で (de) - Location particle
• 使われる (tsukawareru) - to be used
• 重要な (juuyouna) - important
• エネルギー源 (enerugii gen) - energy source
• です (desu) - Verb to be/estar in the present

家は私たちの居場所です。

Ie wa watashitachi no ibasho desu

Home is our place.

Home is our place.

• 家 (ie) - means "house" in Japanese
• は (wa) - Japanese topic particle
• 私たち (watashitachi) - means "we" in Japanese
• の (no) - possessive particle in Japanese
• 居場所 (ibasho) - It means "a place where you feel at home" in Japanese.
• です (desu) - polite way to be/act in Japanese

ヨーロッパは美しい場所です。

Yōroppa wa utsukushii basho desu

Europe is a beautiful place.

Europe is a beautiful place.

• ヨーロッパ - Europe
• は - Topic particle
• 美しい - pretty, beautiful
• 場所 - place
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

この場所で怪物が出現した。

Kono basho de kaibutsu ga shutsugen shita

A monster appeared in this place.

• この場所で - "In this place"
• 怪物が - "Monster"
• 出現した - "Appeared"

寺は静かな場所です。

tera wa shizuka na basho desu

The temple is a quiet place.

• 寺 - temple
• は - Topic particle
• 静かな - quiet
• 場所 - Place
• です - Verb "to be" in the present

幹線道路は交通の要所です。

Kansendouro wa koutsuu no yousho desu

The main road is a key transportation point.

• 幹線道路 - main road
• は - Topic particle
• 交通 - Traffic
• の - Possession particle
• 要所 - key point
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

日光は美しい自然がたくさんある場所です。

Nikkou wa utsukushii shizen ga takusan aru basho desu

Nikko is a place with a lot of beautiful nature.

• 日光 - Proper name referring to a city in Japan.
• は - grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful"
• 自然 - Noun that means "nature"
• が - Grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• たくさん - Adverb that means "very"
• ある - Verb that means "to exist"
• 場所 - Noun that means "place"
• です - Linking verb that indicates the end of the sentence and formality.

日向は美しい場所です。

Hinata wa utsukushii basho desu

Hinata is a beautiful place.

Hyuga is a beautiful place.

• 日向 - A name that refers to a city located in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.
• は - Grammatical particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "日向".
• 美しい - Adjective that means "beautiful" or "pretty".
• 場所 - Noun meaning "place" or "location".
• です - Auxiliary verb that indicates a polite or polished way of expressing an idea, in this case, "is".

私は台所で料理をします。

Watashi wa daidokoro de ryōri o shimasu

I cook in the kitchen.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - topic particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
• 台所 (daidokoro) - noun that means "kitchen"
• で (de) - Particle that indicates the place where the action occurs
• 料理 (ryouri) - noun that means "to cook" or "cuisine"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the action.
• します (shimasu) - verb meaning "to do" or "to accomplish"