Structure
Verb + ところ(を)
[い]Adjective + ところ(を)
[な]Adjective + ところ(を)
Noun + の + ところ(を)
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Formal
使用域
硬い
Rare Kanji
所
About ところを
Being a combination of the noun ところ 'place' or 'situation', and the adverbial particle を, ところを is a grammar construction that will be used in order to express 2 primary meanings. The first is 'in spite of (A)', or 'regardless of (A)'. This nuance of ところ will be that the speaker is politely acknowledging the situation that someone else is in, and apologizing for interrupting them in that moment.
ところを may come after any structure that could pair with a noun. This means verbs in their standard forms, い-Adjectives, な-Adjectives followed by な, or nouns followed by の.
This use of ところを will appear exclusively after verbs in any of their standard forms.
ところを may come after any structure that could pair with a noun. This means verbs in their standard forms, い-Adjectives, な-Adjectives followed by な, or nouns followed by の.
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先輩、休んでいるところを申し訳ないんですけど、エクセルの使い方を教えてください。Senpai, I'm sorry to bother you while you are on vacation, but could you please teach me how to use Excel?
- お忙しいところをすみませんが、相談したいことがあるので少しだけ時間いいですか。I am sorry to bother you while you are busy, but I want some advice. May I have some of your time?
- ご多忙なところをご対応いただきありがとうございました。Thank you for taking time out in spite of you being busy.
- お急ぎのところを恐縮ですが、何時ぐらいに向こうに着くか教えてもらってもよろしいでしょうか。I'm sorry to bother you when you are in a hurry, but may I ask what time you expect to arrive over there?
This use of ところを will appear exclusively after verbs in any of their standard forms.
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警察に逃げるところを目撃された。I was seen by the police while I was fleeing.
- 母に悪戯をしているところを見られてしまった。My mother caught me while I was playing a prank.
- 彼は強盗をしていたところを周りの人に目撃されていたので、どこにも逃げれなかった。Since he was seen when he was robbing the store, he had nowhere to run.
Fun Fact
ところを is occasionally split into two different grammar points depending on the source. However, it is important to remember that the underlying meaning of both of these is the same. ところ marks the place or situation, while を marks how that situation is being utilized either positively or negatively. When it comes to apologizing, the speaker themselves is the one 'using' that moment with を, and is therefore acknowledging that.Examples
先生からの返信のお礼を言う:「お忙しいところを、ご返信ありがとうございます。」
Expressing gratitude to a teacher for their reply: 'In spite of being busy, thank you for your reply.'
ところ is generally used with expressions like お忙しい, お出かけ, お急ぎ, お疲れ, 疲れている, お楽しみ, ご多忙, べき, お休み, Noun + 中, etc.
目上の人に尋ねる:「お急ぎのところを恐縮ですが、このプロジェクトについてのご意見をお聞かせ願えませんか」
Asking a superior: 'I hate to trouble you when you are in such a hurry, but could you let me hear your opinion about this project?'
メール:「ご病気中のところを恐れ入りますが、田中先生の携帯の番号を教えていただけますでしょうか。」
Email: 'I am awfully sorry to trouble you when you are ill, but could you tell me Mr. Tanaka's cell number?'
Noun + 中のところを is a relatively common pattern.
駅の放送:「この電車は、3分遅れて到着いたします。お急ぎのところを、ご迷惑をおかけいたします。」
Station announcement: 'This train will arrive three minutes late. We apologize for the inconvenience while you are in a rush.'
会議での冒頭の挨拶:「皆様、本日はご多忙のところをお越しいただき、ありがとうございます。」
Greetings on the outset of a conference: 'Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for coming today despite being so busy.'
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ところを – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (1 in total)
wrt7MameLZE33wlmpCAV
I came across another usage of ところを・とこを that doesn’t match up with this grammar point at all, which makes me wonder if they should be regarded as different senses entirely.
The source is A Dictionary of Japanese Particles by Sue Kawashima (published by Kodansha). The entry is on pp. 217, 218.
ところを
Indicates that something unexpected has happened or is happening. Colloquial form: “toko-o とこを.”
English approximation: “although (usually) …”
And there are three example sentences given, which I’ll reproduce here.
主人は、いつもなら十時には帰ってくるところを、今度はまだ帰らない。
Although my husband usually comes home before ten o’clock, he hasn’t come home yet tonight.いつもの年なら、今ごろは山は雪で白くなるところを、今年は暖かくてまだ全然雪がありません。
Although usually at this point, the mountains turn white with snow, this year, it’s warm and there is still no snow at all.いつもなら七時には起きるとこを、今朝は目覚...
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