N4 — outside your level filter
ところが
ところがtokorogaN4neutral
however; to my surprise — an unexpected turn against what preceded
出かけようとしたの。ところが、財布が見つからなくて。
dekakeyou to shita no. tokoroga, saifu ga mitsukaranakute.
I was about to head out. But then — I couldn't find my wallet. casual
天気予報では晴れるはずだった。ところが、朝から大雨が降り出した。
tenkiyohou de wa hareru hazu datta. tokoroga, asa kara ooame ga furidashita.
The forecast said it would be sunny. However, it started pouring rain from the morning. neutral
Same meaning19
but; even though
- どころかfar from; not just X but even Yattaches at
- がbut; and — a difference stated, or a soft preambleattaches at
- 反面on the other side of it — one thing, two opposite sidesattaches at
- 一方でwhile; on the other hand — two sides of the same thingattaches at
- からといってjust because X, that doesn't mean Y — the conclusion is refusedattaches at
- けどbut; though — the everyday spoken way to say butattaches at
- くせにeven though; and yet — a jab at someone who should know betterattaches at
- もののalthough — the fact stands, and it changes nothing that followsattaches at
- ながらもthough; even while — a restrained, one-person concessionattaches at
- にせよeven if; whether — grants a case in writing, and changes nothingattaches at
- にしてもeven granting; even if it's the case that — one case among severalattaches at
- に対してtoward; against; in response to N — also sets N against something elseattaches at
- のにeven though; despite; and yetattaches at
- たところでeven if you did — and it would get you nowhereattaches at
- てもeven if; even though; no matterattaches at
- と言ってもhaving said that; though I say X — walks back a claim madeattaches at
- としてもeven supposing; even if we take it that — concedes a set-up hypothesisattaches at
- とはいえthat said; granted — the point is conceded, then turned againstattaches at
- ともeven if; no matter how — literary, on the 〜おう/〜よう form or the く formattaches at
All examples3
however; to my surprise — what follows contradicts the expectation just set up
出かけようとしたの。ところが、財布が見つからなくて。
dekakeyou to shita no. tokoroga, saifu ga mitsukaranakute.
I was about to head out. But then — I couldn't find my wallet. casual
天気予報では晴れるはずだった。ところが、朝から大雨が降り出した。
tenkiyohou de wa hareru hazu datta. tokoroga, asa kara ooame ga furidashita.
The forecast said it would be sunny. However, it started pouring rain from the morning. neutral
事前の調査では問題ないとされていた。ところが、実際には重大な欠陥が見つかった。
jizen no chousa de wa mondai nai to sarete ita. tokoroga, jissai ni wa juudai na kekkan ga mitsukatta.
The prior investigation had found no issues. However, in reality a serious defect was discovered. formal
How it's formed1
Notes
is the sentence-opening marker alone, never joined to a verb.