in the process of doing (ているところ) – Japanese Grammar ているところ (teiru tokoro)

Q: What JLPT level is ているところ?

JLPT N4 — Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences

Q: How do you use ているところ in a sentence?

Attach ているところ to the appropriate verb or noun form. In the process of doing

Q: Is ているところ formal or casual Japanese?

ているところ can be used in both casual conversation and polite speech depending on context.

ているところ

N4 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

teiru tokoro

in the process of doing

と聞いた to kiita かな kana 続ける tsuzukeru てみる te miru なさる nasaru がる・がっている garu; gatteiru られる rareru 頃 koro / goro させてください sasete kudasai でも demo 間 aida そうだ sou da [2] 意向形 ikou kei ようにする you ni suru なさい nasai より yori それでも sore demo お～ください o~kudasai てほしい te hoshii ていた te ita と聞いた to kiita かな kana 続ける tsuzukeru てみる te miru なさる nasaru がる・がっている garu; gatteiru られる rareru 頃 koro / goro させてください sasete kudasai でも demo 間 aida そうだ sou da [2] 意向形 ikou kei ようにする you ni suru なさい nasai より yori それでも sore demo お～ください o~kudasai てほしい te hoshii ていた te ita

🃏 Flashcard

ているところ

teiru tokoro

Tap to reveal usage

in the process of doing

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N4

Upper-Beginner · Forming complex sentences

Reading teiru tokoro

Post ID 50786

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

in the process of doing

📖 How to use it

Indicates that an action is in progress at the moment of speaking or at a referenced time.

Attaches to Attach to the て-form of a verb followed by いるところ (or いますところ in polite speech). For example, 食べているところ, 読んでいるところ.

This pattern emphasizes that the action is currently ongoing, often with the nuance that it is happening right now or right at the moment something else occurs. It is similar to the present progressive, but adds a focus on the 'point in time' aspect. You can use it to say what you are doing at the moment, or to describe that someone was in the middle of doing something when another event happened.

It is commonly used in everyday conversation. For example, if someone calls you, you might say '今、ご飯を食べているところです' to explain why you cannot talk long. It also appears in set phrases like 'ちょうど今から出かけるところです' meaning 'I am just about to leave' (though 'ところ' can also indicate a point just before an action).

Note that the pattern is not used with verbs that describe states (like いる, ある, わかる) because those are not actions with a duration.

今、宿題をしているところです。

Ima, shukudai o shite iru tokoro desu.

I am in the middle of doing my homework right now.

電車に乗っているところだから、後で電話するね。

Densha ni notte iru tokoro da kara, ato de denwa suru ne.

I'm on the train right now, so I'll call you later.

ご飯を食べているところに友達が来ました。

Gohan o tabete iru tokoro ni tomodachi ga kimashita.

A friend came while I was in the middle of eating.

Not ている (progressive) ている simply states an ongoing action, while ているところ explicitly highlights that the action is at its midpoint, often used when interrupted or to draw attention to the current activity. For example, '本を読んでいる' just means 'I am reading a book,' but '本を読んでいるところです' implies 'I am right in the middle of reading (so please wait).'

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

ているところ

📚 How to Master This Pattern

🔊

Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat ているところ three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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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 ているところ. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

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Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

🔗 More JLPT N4 Patterns

even; even if; even though

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern ているところ mean? ▼

In the process of doing

What JLPT level is ているところ? ▼

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 ているところ in a sentence? ▼

Attach ているところ (teiru 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 ているところ formal or casual Japanese? ▼

ているところ is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.

How can I remember ているところ long-term? ▼

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.