ところだ

Meaning & usage

Someone/something is in the state where he/it is just about to do something, is doing something, has done something, or has been doing something.

Example sentences 13

1. お仕事中のところをすみません。

   I'm sorry to bother you in the midst of your work.

2. お休みのところをすみません。

   I’m sorry (to disturb) the state in which you are off duty. / I’m sorry to bother you when you are off duty/on vacation.

3. お忙しいところをどうもありがとうございました。

   Thank you very much (for helping me) in the state when you are busy. / Thank you very much for sparing your precious time with me.

4. ご飯を食べ終わったところにまり子が訪ねて来た。

   Mariko came (to see me) at the state in which I had just finished my meal. / Mariko came to see me when I’d just finished my meal.

5. テリーと踊っているところをマーサに見られてしまった。

   Martha saw me when I was (literally: in the midst of) dancing with Terry.

6. 三 章しょうまで読んだところで寝てしまった。

   I fell asleep when I had read up to the third chapter (literally: in the state in which I had read it up to the third chapter).

7. 僕は今出かけるところです。

   I'm just about to go out now.

8. 利男としおは一番大事なところでよく勉強しなかったから何も分からなくなってしまった。

   Toshio has come to the point of not understanding anything because he didn’t study well in the state where (the class) was the most important. / Toshio has gotten totally lost because he didn’t study hard when it was most important.

9. 春江は晩ご飯を食べたところだ・です。

   Harue has just eaten her supper.

10. 春江は晩ご飯を食べているところだ・です。

    Harue is in the midst of eating her supper.

11. 春江は晩ご飯を食べるところだ・です。

    Harue is just about to eat her supper.

12. 私はもう少しで宿題を忘れるところだった・でした。

    I almost forgot (was about to forget) my homework.

13. 私は危なく 溺おぼれるところだった。

    I was almost drowned.