ところで

By the way, Incidentally

ところで、昨日きのうの話はなしはどうなった？

By the way, what happened with what we talked about yesterday?

Explanation

「ところで」 starts a sentence and changes the topic. It closes the current subject and moves to a new one, or to one that was put aside: 「今日の会議はこれで終わります。ところで、田中さんはいつ戻りますか」 (That's all for today's meeting. By the way, when is Tanaka coming back?).

Mixed up with

Don't overuse it; it makes you seem to jump around and not listen.

Same look, different meaning: verb past form + 「ところで」 means 'even if... (it's no use)': 「今さら謝ったところで、許してくれない」 (Even if you apologize now, they won't forgive you).

Easily confused withところが・ところで: the difference ›そういえば・ところで・それにしても: the difference ›

Examples

ところで、お宅たくの旦那だんなさんは元気げんきにしていますか。
By the way, is your husband doing well?
ところで、明日あしたのパーティーに何なにを持もって来きますか？
By the way, what are you going to bring to the party tomorrow?
ところで、どこに行いくつもりですか。
By the way, where do you plan on going?
ところで、パソコンの使つかい方かたをご存知ぞんじですか。
By the way, do you know how to use a computer?
ところで内本うちもとさんはどこ出身しゅっしん？
By the way, where is Uchimoto-san from?
ところでもう雨あめはやみましたか？
By the way, has it stopped raining yet?
ところで大谷おおたにさんも一緒いっしょに旅行りょこうに行いくんですか？
By the way, is Otani-san going with you on the trip?
ところで昨日きのう渡わたした報告書ほうこくしょは読よんでもらえましたか？
By the way, have you read the report I submitted yesterday?
ところでそばとうどん、どっちが食たべたい？
By the way, which would you like to have, soba or udon?
ところであの話はなしはどうなったの？ちゃんと考かんがえてくれた？
By the way, what happened to what we talked about? Have you thought about it?
ところで来週らいしゅうの予定よていはどうしますか？
By the way, what will you do about next week's plans?
ところで部長ぶちょうはいつ帰かえってくるの？
By the way, when is the manager coming back?
ところで北海道ほっかいどうで一人暮ひとりぐらしをしている娘むすめさんは元気げんき？
By the way, is your daughter, who lives alone in Hokkaido, well?