たところ
🃏 Flashcard
たところ
ta tokoro
Tap to reveal usage
just finished doing, was just doing
N4
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N4
Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences
Reading
ta tokoro
Post ID
50765
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
just finished doing, was just doing
📖 How to use it
Describes an action that has just been completed, emphasizing the immediacy before the next event or state.
Attaches to
Attach to the past tense (た-form) of a verb. For example, 食べたところ (just ate), 来たところ (just came).
This pattern is used to say that something happened 'just now' or 'right before' the moment of speaking or another event. It highlights that the action is very recent, and often the result or state is still relevant. For instance, if you have just finished eating, you say 食べたところです, meaning 'I just ate.' It can also be used to connect to the next action, like 'I just got here, so I'm still tired.' The nuance is that the action is complete, but the time since is very short.
ご飯を食べたところです。
Gohan o tabeta tokoro desu.
I've just eaten.
駅に着いたところです。
Eki ni tsuita tokoro desu.
I just arrived at the station.
今、テストが終わったところです。
Ima, tesuto ga owatta tokoro desu.
I just finished the test now.
Not たばかり
Both mean 'just did,' but たところ is used for very recent actions and often connects to the current state or next action, while たばかり emphasizes that not much time has passed since the action, sometimes with a subjective feeling of recency. たところ sounds more objective and immediate, たばかり can be used even if some time has passed if the speaker feels it's recent.
Register
Neutral and commonly used in both spoken and written Japanese, though it's slightly more formal than casual conversation.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
たところ
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat たところ three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using たところ. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N4 Patterns
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たばかり
just finished; something just occurred
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他動詞 & 自動詞
Transitive & Intransitive Verbs
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern たところ mean?
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Just finished doing, was just doing
What JLPT level is たところ?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use たところ in a sentence?
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Attach たところ (ta tokoro) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is たところ formal or casual Japanese?
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たところ is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember たところ long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.