ところ & たばかり — precision timing

JLPT N3 Japanese self-study　·　~15 min　·　About to start · in progress · just finished · only recently

'I was just about to go out.' 'I'm right in the middle of studying.' 'I just finished eating.' 'I only arrived recently.' — ところ and たばかり capture exactly where in time an action is.

What you'll learn

• するところ = about to start (the moment before)
• しているところ = in progress (right now)
• したところ = just finished (the moment of completion)
• たばかり = recently (elapsed time is short / still fresh)

How to study “ところ & たばかり — precision timing”

“ところ & たばかり — precision timing” (About to start · in progress · just finished · only recently) is a JLPT N3 chapter of our free Japanese self-study course, about 15 min. You learn by doing — flashcard drills and fill-in-the-blank quizzes graded on the spot — completely free, with no sign-up and no ad wall. Once it clicks, read the matching in-depth explainer over in Grammar.