～ところに・～ところへ・～ところを
An event occurs at a particular stage of another action
You’ll be able to describe an arrival or intervention just before, during, or after an action, choosing に・へ・を according to how that stage fits the sentence.
片付けようとしたところに、蓮が手伝いに来ました。
katazukeyou to shita tokoro ni, ren ga tetsudai ni kimashita.
What do you think this sentence means?
Just as I was about to tidy up, Ren came to help.
Right at that moment
ところ means “at the point or stage of doing something.” ～ところに commonly introduces an event that arrives at that exact moment. ～ところへ has a similar sense but emphasizes movement toward the situation; ～ところを often marks someone’s action as the point of observation or intervention.
家を出るところへ、母が帰ってきました。
ie o deru tokoro e, haha ga kaette kimashita.
Just as I was leaving the house, my mother came home.
寝ているところを、弟に写真を撮られました。
nete iru tokoro o, otouto ni shashin o toraremashita.
My younger brother took a photo of me while I was sleeping.
Show which stage you are at
Use dictionary form + ところ for “about to,” ているところ for “in the middle of,” and たところ for “just finished.” Then choose に or へ for an arriving event. Use を when someone sees, catches, or stops you at that stage, whether you are about to act or in the middle of acting.
食べているところに、弟が入ってきました。
tabete iru tokoro ni, otouto ga haitte kimashita.
My younger brother came in while I was eating.
帰るところを、先生に呼び止められました。
kaeru tokoro o, sensei ni yobitomeraremashita.
My teacher stopped me just as I was about to leave.
帰ろうとしたところに、部長から急な仕事を頼まれた。
kaerou to shita tokoro ni, buchou kara kyuu na shigoto o tanomareta.
Just as I was about to go home, my manager gave me an urgent job.
授業中にスマホを見ているところを、先生に見つかってしまった。
jugyouchuu ni sumaho o mite iru tokoro o, sensei ni mitsukatte shimatta.
The teacher caught me looking at my phone during class.
駅で道がわからなくて困っているところへ、駅員さんが来てくれました。
eki de michi ga wakaranakute komatte iru tokoro e, ekiin-san ga kite kuremashita.
While I was stuck at the station, not knowing the way, a station worker came over to help me.
7 more examples in the grammar path — free for a limited time.