死体を埋めようとしているところに、散歩中の老人が通りかかった。
Some old man walked by right as I was tryin’ to bury the body.
Read the explanation below to understand the nuance of how this grammar structure is used.
This grammar point is all about timing, homie—specifically when someone rolls up or some shit happens right when a situation is goin’ down.
Think of it like that scene in every hood movie where the deal is just about to close, and then the feds kick the door in. Or when you’re just about to spark up, and your girl walks in trippin’. It’s all about that “just at the moment” energy.
The Nuance: Being at the Wrong Place at the Right Time
In the streets, timing is everything. ところに marks the exact moment a new event interrupts or adds to a situation. It’s like the “camera angle” shifts right when the action is peak.
The Metaphor: Imagine you’re Paper Boi from Atlanta. You’re just tryna chill and eat your lemon pepper wings (the state you’re in), and right at that moment, some fan rolls up with a camera in your face (the interruption). That transition point—that “right when I was doing X, Y happened”—is your ところに.
It’s different from tokoro de (which is a subject change) or tokoro wo (usually when you get caught red-handed). ところに is about the arrival of a new person or situation into the current scene. It’s like a guest feature on a track that either makes it a hit or ruins the whole vibe.
Check the blueprint before you start buildin’ your empire. Here is how you hook it up:
| Form | Rule | Example | Translation |
| Verb (Dictionary) | Verb (Dict.) + ところに | 逃げるところに | Just as I was about to dip |
| Verb (~te iru) | Verb (~te iru) + ところに | 揉めているところに | Just as they were beefing |
| Verb (~ta) | Verb (~ta) + ところに | 終わったところに | Just as it finished |
| Adjective (i) | Adj-i + ところに | 忙しいところに | Just when I’m busy as hell |
To keep it 100, the conjugation depends on the timing of the action. If you use the Dictionary Form, it means you were just about to do some shit. If you use ~te iru, you were in the middle of the grind. If you use the Past (~ta) Form, the act was already done when the new shit popped off. It’s like the difference between being about to pull the trigger, being in a shootout, or standing over the body when the sirens start blaring.
Read and master the example sentences below.
証拠を燃やそうとしているところに、警察が踏み込んできた。The feds raided the spot right as I was tryin’ to burn the evidence.
裏切り者を始末したところに、ボスの電話が鳴った。
The boss called right as I finished taking out the snitch.
銀行強盗の計画を立てているところに、ピザ屋が間違えて来た。
The pizza delivery guy came to the wrong house right as we were plannin’ the heist.
金を数え終わったところに、銃声が聞こえた。
I just finished countin’ the paper when I heard gunshots.
逃走車を待っているところに、パトカーが３台も来た。
Three cop cars rolled up right while I was waitin’ for the getaway driver.
隠れ家で休んでいるところに、手榴弾が投げ込まれた。Someone tossed a grenade in while I was restin’ at the safehouse.
偽札を作っているところに、電気が止まった。
The power went out right as we were printin’ that funny money.
ドライブバイの準備ができたところに、大雨が降ってきた。
It started pouring rain right as we got ready for the drive-by.
盗んだバイクを売り飛ばそうとしたところに、持ち主が現れた。
The owner showed up right as I was tryin’ to flip the stolen bike.
賭場で大勝ちしているところに、警察のガサ入れが入った。
The cops raided the gambling den right as I was winning big.
Stay dangerous.
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