N1 Conditions, Dependencies, and Consequences

~たところで: meaning, usage and examples

~たところで means: even if... / even though...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 今いまから急いそいだところで、もう間まに合あわない。

   Even if we hurry now, we won't make it in time.

2. 少すこしくらい勉強べんきょうしたところで、合格ごうかくは無理むりだろう。

   Even if you study a little, passing is probably impossible.

3. いくら謝あやまったところで、壊こわれた花瓶かびんは元もとに戻もどらない。

   No matter how much you apologize, the broken vase will not go back to how it was.

4. 今いまさら会社かいしゃに文句もんくを言いったところで、決定けっていは変かわらないでしょう。

   Even if you complain to the company now, the decision probably will not change.

When to use it

Means "even if you do X, it will not help" or "even if X, the result is small." The speaker says an action is pointless or its effect is limited. For example, いくら謝あやまったところで、花瓶かびんは元もとに戻もどらない (no matter how much you apologize, the vase will not go back to how it was). Often paired with いくら, どんなに or 今いまさら.

Nuance

Used in speech and writing, with a resigned or dismissive tone. The second half is a negative or low-value judgment (無駄むだだ, 変かわらない, 無理むりだろう, せいぜい〜だ). It is not used for past facts that really happened or for a positive result.

Compare

Compare ても: 急いそいでも間まに合あわない is neutral. 急いそいだところで間まに合あわない stresses that the effort is pointless. Also compare たところ (I did X and found Y): 聞きいてみたところ、知しらなかった. Without で, the meaning is completely different.

Tip: たところで + negative = "no point even if." If you see a hopeful second clause, the answer is ても or たところ, not たところで.