Changing the Topic in Casual Japanese: Saying "By the way" Naturally
Learn how to shift subjects smoothly in Japanese conversation with ところで, そういえば, ちなみに and 話は変わるけど, and see how each one links back to what was just said.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
In real conversation you rarely announce a brand-new topic out of nowhere. You connect it to what was just said: "Speaking of which...", "By the way...", "That reminds me...". Japanese does this with a small set of transition words placed at the very start of your sentence. The most common casual one is ところで (tokoro de), and the most useful for linking to the current topic is そういえば (sō ieba). This lesson shows you five reusable patterns, when each sounds natural, and how to keep the register consistent with the person you are talking to.
By the end, you can…
- shift to a new topic in casual Japanese using ところで, そういえば and ちなみに.
- choose between casual and polite topic-shift expressions depending on who I am talking to.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
ところで、最近どう？
By the way, how have you been lately?
to-ko-ro-de, sa-i-kin dō
The standard casual topic-shift. It signals a new subject that is not closely tied to the previous one. Safe with friends and close colleagues.
そういえば、田中さん結婚したんだって。
Speaking of which, I heard Tanaka-san got married.
sō i-e-ba, ta-na-ka-san ke-k-kon shi-ta-n da-t-te
Links the new topic to something just mentioned or just remembered. Use it when the previous line reminded you of something.
ちなみに、それはいくらだった？
By the way, how much was that?
chi-na-mi-ni, so-re wa i-ku-ra da-t-ta?
Adds a related side question. Slightly more neutral than ところで and common in both casual and semi-polite talk.
話は変わるけど、週末の予定は？
Changing the subject, what are your plans for the weekend?
ha-na-shi wa ka-wa-ru ke-do, shū-ma-tsu no yo-te-i
Explicitly announces a topic change. Useful when the new topic is clearly unrelated to the current one.
すみません、ちょっと伺いたいのですが。
Excuse me, I'd like to ask you something.
su-mi-ma-se-n, cho-t-to u-ka-ga-i-ta-i no de-su ga
Polite opener for asking staff a question. It shifts the interaction to a new purpose without sounding abrupt.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The basic shape is: transition word + plain statement or question. ところで marks a fresh topic: ところで、日本語の勉強はどう？ (By the way, how is your Japanese study?). そういえば marks a topic triggered by the previous line: A: 昨日、駅で会ったよ。 B: そういえば、あの駅、工事してたよね。 (Speaking of which, that station was under construction, right?). ちなみに adds a related aside: ちなみに、それ、どこで買ったの？ (By the way, where did you buy that?). All three sit at the start of the sentence and are followed by a comma pause in speech.
When to use it
Choose the transition and sentence ending for the relationship and purpose. ところで introduces a new subject, そういえば marks something recalled or connected, and ちなみに adds related information or a side question. The recorded weekend question うん、そこ。ところで、週末は何するの？ changes away from the cafe. The next recorded line ちなみに、そのカフェ、混んでた？ returns to the cafe and asks whether it was crowded; it does not answer the weekend question. Listen to that return as a second shift, and practice the weekend question separately if you need an answered exchange. The recording supplies no model answer giving weekend plans.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
昨日、新しいカフェに行ったんだ。
Yesterday I went to a new cafe.ki-nō, a-ta-ra-shii ka-fe ni i-tta-n daそういえば、駅の近くにできたところ？
Speaking of which, the one that opened near the station?sō i-e-ba, e-ki no chi-ka-ku ni de-ki-ta to-ko-roうん、そこ。ところで、週末は何するの？
Yeah, that one. By the way, what are you doing this weekend?un, so-ko. to-ko-ro-de, shū-ma-tsu wa na-ni su-ru noちなみに、そのカフェ、混んでた？
By the way, was that cafe crowded?chi-na-mi-ni, so-no ka-fe, ko-n-de-taA little context goes a long way
A transition word does not by itself set the politeness level. Use a sentence ending and opener appropriate to the person you are speaking with. The examples combine a new topic and a return to the earlier cafe topic; they should not be rehearsed as an answered question about weekend plans.
One thing to watch for
Using ところで in a polite service encounter as a bare topic shift, for example saying ところで、メニューは？ to a server.
Try this instead: Soften it or use a polite opener: すみません、メニューをいただけますか。 or ところで、一つ伺ってもいいですか。 The transition word alone does not carry politeness; the sentence ending and the opener do.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1Your friend just mentioned they bought a new phone. You want to ask how much it cost, linking to that topic. Which transition fits best?
Show a sample answer
ちなみに、それはいくらだった？
ちなみに adds a related side question about something just mentioned. そういえば is also possible if the phone reminded you of something else, but ちなみに is the most natural for a follow-up detail question.
2You are talking to a coworker you do not know well and want to change to a new topic politely. What can you say?
Show a sample answer
話は変わりますが、少し伺ってもいいですか。
話は変わりますが is the polite version of 話は変わるけど, and 伺ってもいいですか softens the request. ところで alone is understandable but can sound blunt in this setting.
3Someone says 昨日、大阪に行ったよ。 You remember that a mutual friend lives there. Which transition shows you are linking to their line?
Show a sample answer
そういえば、山田さん、大阪に住んでるよね。
そういえば explicitly marks a topic triggered by what was just said, which fits here. ところで would also be grammatical but would sound like a less connected shift.
Use そういえば for a recalled connection, ところで for a new subject, and ちなみに for related information. In the recording, B returns to the cafe and leaves the weekend question unanswered; do not mistake that cafe question for a weekend-plan reply.
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