N2 Reasons, Causes, and Expectations

~ところをみると: meaning, usage and examples

~ところをみると means: judging from... / seeing that...

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

Examples

1. 彼かれが来こないところをみると、忘わすれたのだろう。

   Seeing that he hasn't come, he probably forgot.

2. 空そらが曇くもってきたところをみると、雨あめが降ふりそうだ。

   Seeing that the sky is getting cloudy, it looks like it will rain.

3. 部屋へやの電気でんきが消きえているところをみると、田中たなかさんはもう帰かえったらしい。

   Judging from the fact that the lights are off, Mr. Tanaka seems to have gone home already.

4. にこにこしているところをみると、何なにかいいことがあったようだ。

   Seeing how they're smiling, it looks like something good happened.

When to use it

ところをみると means "judging from" or "seeing that": the speaker notices something and makes a guess about the situation behind it, as in 電気でんきが消きえているところをみると、もう帰かえったらしい. It is often used about other people's feelings or circumstances, which the speaker cannot know for sure and can only infer from what is visible.

Nuance

Used in speech and writing. The second clause is a guess, so it usually ends with らしい, ようだ, だろう, に違ちがいない. It is based on something the speaker sees directly, not on general knowledge, and it is not followed by the speaker's plans or requests.

Compare

からすると also gives a basis for judgment but often a viewpoint or general information: 彼かれの話はなし方かたからすると、関西かんさいの人ひとだろう. ことから gives a fact for a name or general conclusion. ところをみると draws a guess from an observed scene: 笑わらっているところをみると、いいことがあったようだ.

Tip: End the sentence with a guess word (らしい, ようだ, だろう). Without one, ところをみると sounds incomplete.