“tokoro ga”: However / Unexpectedly (an unexpected concessive conjunction) [JLPT N3]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
“I thought I'd succeed. However, I failed” — an utterly unexpected outcome, with a pivoting tone
“tokoro ga”: However / Unexpectedly (an unexpected concessive conjunction)
The conjunction 「ところが」 at the head means “however, but, unexpectedly” — picking up the prior clause and bringing out an unexpected, contrary-to-expectation objective result. E.g. 「成功すると思った。ところが、失敗した」 (I thought I'd succeed. However, I failed), 「天気予報は晴れだった。ところが、午後から大雨になった」 (the forecast was sunny. However, it poured in the afternoon). It stresses that the latter is an unexpected fact, with a surprised pivot.
🧠 Core nuance: I thought it'd go this way, but it turned out the opposite
The core is an unexpected concession: the prior states a situation or expectation (thought I'd succeed, forecast sunny, thought it'd be easy), and ところが brings out an unexpected objective result contrary to expectation (yet failed, yet rained, yet hard). More than a plain しかし (however), it stresses the surprise of “didn't expect it,” and the latter is mostly an objective fact that happened (not the speaker's subjective will). Common for narrating an unexpected turn of events.
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (clause). ところが、〜 | however, unexpectedly | 〜。ところが、〜 |
| (latter) an unexpected objective fact | 〜失敗した etc. | ところが、雨だった |
| (not followed by) command/will | ✗ ところが、〜しよう | — |
💬 Example Sentences
- 簡単だと思っていた。ところが、やってみると意外に難しかった。(I thought it'd be easy. However, trying it, it was surprisingly hard.) — unexpected
- 天気予報は晴れだった。ところが、午後から大雨になった。(The forecast was sunny. However, it poured in the afternoon.) — unexpected result
- 彼に会いに行った。ところが、あいにく留守だった。(I went to see him. However, he happened to be out.) — unexpected
- 合格すると信じていた。ところが、結果は不合格だった。(I believed I'd pass. However, the result was a fail.) — contrary to expectation
- 道は空いていると思った。ところが、ひどい渋滞だった。(I thought the roads would be clear. However, there was terrible traffic.) — surprised pivot
🔄 Compare: ところが vs しかし vs ところで vs それなのに
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ところが | “however, unexpectedly” (unexpected objective concession) | 〜。ところが失敗した |
| しかし | “but, however” (concessive, general) | 安い。しかし質は悪い |
| ところで | “by the way” (topic change, totally different!) | ところで、元気? |
| それなのに | “and yet” (concessive, with dissatisfaction) | 頑張った。それなのに落ちた |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- Confusing with ところで: ところが = however (concessive); ところで = by the way (topic change) — entirely different meanings!
- Following with command/will: ✗ 雨だ。ところが傘を持って → ところが is followed by an unexpected objective result, not a command.
- Latter is an objective fact: mostly something that happened, unexpected (yet rained, yet failed).
- Position: at the head, linking two clauses.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
The conjunction ところが means “however, unexpectedly,” picking up the prior clause and bringing out an unexpected, contrary-to-expectation objective result (thought I'd succeed yet failed, forecast sunny yet rained). More than しかし, it stresses the surprise of “didn't expect it,” with the latter mostly an objective fact that happened, not followed by a command/will. Common for narrating an unexpected turn. ⚠️ Especially, don't confuse it with ところで (by the way, topic change) — they're entirely different! A must at N3.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- High-frequency N3: ところが = however, unexpectedly (unexpected objective concession); at the head.
- Restriction: the latter is an unexpected objective fact, not a command/will.
- Key trap: ところが (however, concessive) ≠ ところで (by the way, topic change)!
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「天気予報は晴れだった。___、午後から大雨になった。」（然而下午下起大雨）
(A) ところが (B) ところで (C) それで (D) だから
Q2. 「ところが」と置き換えにくいのは?（語感最不同）
(A) ところで (B) しかし (C) でも (D) けれども
Q3. 「ところが」が表す語感は?
(A) 然而（後件出乎意料的客觀結果）
(B) 因為（原因）
(C) 換個話題（對了）
(D) 而且（追加）
Q4. 「ところが」の使い方として不自然な文は?
(A) 行ってみた。ところが、休みだった。
(B) 簡単だと思った。ところが、難しかった。
(C) 雨だ。ところが、傘を持ってきてください。
(D) 電話した。ところが、出なかった。
Q5. 「ところが」と「ところで」の違いとして正しいのは?
(A) ところが＝逆接(然而);ところで＝轉換話題(對了)
(B) 兩者完全相同
(C) ところが＝轉換話題
(D) ところで＝表示原因
答案解析
1. (A) ところが ── 預報晴天，然而下大雨(意外逆接)。
2. (A) ところで ── ところで 是「轉換話題」,語感與ところが(逆接)最不同。
3. (A) ── 然而，後件出乎意料。
4. (C) ── ところが 後不接請求(〜てください),故(C)不自然。
5. (A) ── ところが 逆接;ところで 轉換話題。