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N3

ところが

Even so, However, Even though, But

新あたらしい洗濯機せんたくきを買かった。ところが、洗濯機せんたくきが大おおきすぎて家いえに入はいらなかった。

I bought a new washing machine. However, it was so big that it didn't fit in my house.

Explanation

「ところが」 starts a sentence and means 'but, unexpectedly'. The first sentence gives a plan or expectation, and the next one brings a surprising result, often a disappointing one: 「9時に目覚ましをセットした。ところが、鳴らなかった」 (I set the alarm for nine. But it didn't ring), 「薬を飲んだ。ところが、熱は下がらなかった」 (I took medicine. Yet the fever didn't go down).

Mixed up with

What follows must be a fact that already happened, not your will, a guess, an order or a wish. Don't say 「×天気が悪い。ところが、出かけよう」.

「しかし」 fits any contrast, and can be followed by an opinion or intention.

Don't mix it up with 「ところで」: 「ところが」 is 'however'; 「ところで」 changes the subject ('by the way').

Examples

  1. 日本にほんのチームが勝かつと思おもっていた。ところが負まけてしまった。

    I thought that the Japanese team would win. However, they lost.

  2. 勝かてる試合しあいだった。ところが、怪我けがをして負まけてしまった。

    It was a match I could win. However, I got injured and lost.

  3. パンを買かいに行いきました。ところが、もう売うり切きれでした。

    I went to buy bread. However, it was already sold out.

Tested 7 times in past papers

N2 · Dec 2022, Q49N2 · Dec 2021, Q49N1 · Dec 2016, Q44N3 · Dec 2015, Q55N3 · Jul 2014, Q55N3 · Jul 2013, Q55N3 · Jul 2010, Q54