“〜tokoro wo”: Just As 〜 (Caught/Interrupted by Another) [JLPT N1]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
Describing a scene where one's state is witnessed by another.
“〜tokoro wo”: Just As 〜 (Caught/Interrupted by Another)
「〜ところを」 expresses ‘just as 〜 (witnessed/caught/interrupted by another)' — the first is a state/scene, the latter another's action upon that state (witnessing, catching, interrupting, helping). E.g. 「いたずらをしているところを、先生に見つかった」 (just as I was up to mischief, the teacher caught me), 「お忙しいところを、ありがとうございます」 (thank you (for sparing time) in your busy moment). ⚠️ Connection: verb dict. form/ている/ta-form ＋ ところを; noun ＋ の ＋ ところを; い-adjective ＋ ところを; な-adjective ＋ な ＋ ところを (お忙しいところを)! ⚠️ Key: the latter is ‘another's action upon the subject (the first state),' often passive (見つかった, 撮られた); also for polite prefaces (お〜のところを).
🧠 Core nuance: a state/scene, with another's intervention (witnessing, interrupting, catching)
The core is the first is an ongoing state/scene, the latter ‘another's action upon the subject in that state' (witnessing, catching, interrupting, helping): ① witnessed/caught — while the subject is in some state, another sees or catches them (いたずらをしているところを先生に見つかった = caught by the teacher while up to mischief, 寝ているところを写真に撮られた = photographed while asleep, 逃げようとするところを捕まった = caught just as trying to flee); the latter is often passive (見つかる, 撮られる, 捕まる). ② polite preface (interrupting/amid …) — ‘お〜のところを' means ‘(troubling you) while you are 〜,' a courteous formula (お忙しいところを、すみません = sorry to trouble you in your busy moment, お急ぎのところを、お時間をいただけますか = may I have a moment though you're in a hurry, お休みのところを失礼します = excuse me for disturbing your rest). ⚠️ Core: ところを's latter is ‘another's action upon the subject (the first state),' the subject being the one acted upon (unlike a plain ‘ところ (point in time),' ところを stresses ‘in that state, being …d'). ⚠️ Connection: verb dict. form/ている/ta-form ＋ ところを (寝ているところを); noun ＋ の ＋ ところを (the お〜の of お忙しいところを); い-adjective ＋ ところを; な-adjective ＋ な ＋ ところを! ⚠️ Contrast with 「ときに」: ときに is just a point in time (neutral); ところを stresses ‘in that very state, with another's intervention (often interrupting/witnessing).' An N1 pattern for another's intervention in a scene.
📌 Connection Rules
| Part of speech | Connection | Example |
|---|---|---|
| verb | dict. form/ている/ta-form ＋ ところを | 寝ているところを |
| noun | ＋ の ＋ ところを | お休みのところを |
| い-adjective | ＋ ところを | お忙しいところを |
| な-adjective | ＋ な ＋ ところを | 大変なところを |
💬 Example Sentences
- お忙しいところを、ありがとうございます。(Thank you (for sparing time) in your busy moment.) — polite preface
- いたずらをしているところを、先生に見つかった。(Just as I was up to mischief, the teacher caught me.) — witnessed
- 寝ているところを、写真に撮られた。(I was photographed while asleep.) — passive
- お急ぎのところを、少々お時間をいただけますか。(May I have a moment, though you're in a hurry?) — polite preface
- 逃げようとするところを、警察に捕まった。(Just as I tried to flee, the police caught me.) — caught
🔄 Compare: ところを vs ところに vs ときに vs ところで
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜ところを | just as 〜, intervened by another (witnessed/interrupted) | 寝ているところを撮られた |
| 〜ところに | just as 〜 (something happens) | 出かけるところに電話が来た |
| 〜ときに | when 〜 (neutral time) | 出かけるときに |
| 〜ところで | even if 〜 (in vain) | 行ったところで無駄 |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- The latter is another's action upon the subject: ところを's latter is often passive (見つかった, 撮られた, 捕まった), the subject the one acted upon.
- ところを vs ところに: を is ‘being …d by another'; に is ‘just as …, something happens.'
- Connection: verb dict. form/ている/ta-form ＋ ところを; な-adjective ＋ な ＋ ところを; noun ＋ の ＋ ところを.
- Polite preface: お〜のところを (お忙しいところを, お休みのところを) = (troubling you) while you are 〜.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
「〜ところを」 expresses ‘just as 〜, intervened by another (witnessed, caught, interrupted),' the latter another's action upon the subject in that state (寝ているところを撮られた, いたずらをしているところを見つかった); often passive. Also for polite prefaces (お忙しいところを). ⚠️ Contrast with ところに (just as …, something happens). An N1 intervention-in-a-scene pattern — memorize it.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- N1 core: 〜ところを = just as 〜, intervened by another (witnessed/caught/interrupted); the latter another's action upon the subject, often passive (撮られた, 見つかった).
- Connection: verb dict. form/ている/ta-form ＋ ところを; noun ＋ の ＋ ところを; な-adjective ＋ な ＋ ところを.
- Distinction: ところを (being …d by another) vs ところに (just as …, something happens); polite preface お〜のところを.
🖊️ Practice Quiz
Q1. 「お急ぎの___を、少々お時間をいただけますか。」(troubling you while you're in a hurry)
(A) ところ (B) とき (C) 場合 (D) ほど
Q2. 「いたずらをしている___、先生に見つかった。」(caught by the teacher while up to mischief)
(A) ところを (B) ことを (C) ものを (D) わけを
Q3. What's the most typical latter clause for 「ところを」?
(A) being witnessed/caught/interrupted by another (another's action on the subject)
(B) the subject's own plan
(C) a pure time statement
(D) a cause-effect conclusion
Q4. What does 「お忙しいところを、ありがとうございます」 mean?
(A) thank you (for sparing time) in your busy moment
(B) since you're busy, never mind
(C) please don't be so busy
(D) you're not busy at all
Q5. Which connection is correct?
(A) 寝ているところを撮られた。
(B) 寝るところを撮られたいる。
(C) 寝たいところを撮る。
(D) 寝ているをところ撮られた。
Answer Key
1. (A) ところ ── 「お〜のところを」 = (troubling you) while you're …, a polite preface.
2. (A) ところを ── caught by the teacher while up to mischief (witnessed).
3. (A) ── being witnessed/caught/interrupted by another (another's action on the subject).
4. (A) ── thank you (for sparing time) in your busy moment.
5. (A) 寝ているところを撮られた ── photographed while asleep (correct connection).