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ところで

by the way

ところで、new topic

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ところで changes the subject: ところで、来週の予定はどうですか, "by the way, what are your plans for next week?"

It signals a clean break to a new topic, often one the speaker has been waiting to raise. It works in casual and polite speech alike, and it's common after finishing business: 仕事の話はこれで終わりです。ところで….

Compare そういえば (N3), "that reminds me", which connects to what was just said. ところで doesn't need any connection.

Don't confuse it with たところで (N2, "even if") or ところ (N4, "about to, just did"). At the start of a sentence, ところで is always "by the way".

Examples

  • ところで、来週らいしゅうの予定よていはどうですか。

    By the way, what are your plans for next week?

  • ところで、田中たなかさんは元気げんきですか。

    By the way, how's Tanaka doing?

  • 仕事しごとの話はなしはこれで終おわりです。ところで、夏休なつやすみはどこへ行いきますか。

    That's all for work. By the way, where are you going for the summer holidays?

  • ところで、この前貸まえかした本ほん、読よんだ?

    By the way, did you read that book I lent you?

  • ところで、今何時いまなんじ?

    By the way, what time is it?

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