Japanese - Lesson 86 of 168: Topic Changes

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

ところで、___。

Tokoro de, ___.

By the way, ___.

Meaning: By the way, ___.

When to use: Use ところで when you want to casually bring up a new but related subject. Put a complete sentence after it.

ところで、週末の予定はどうですか？

Tokoro de, shūmatsu no yotei wa dō desu ka?

By the way, what are your plans for the weekend?

ところで、そのレポートは終わりましたか？

Tokoro de, sono repōto wa owarimashita ka?

By the way, did you finish that report?

___といえば、___。

___ to ieba, ___.

Speaking of ___, ___.

Meaning: Speaking of ___, ___.

When to use: Put a noun or topic before といえば to connect the current subject to something related.

Tip: Don't use といえば when you mean “that reminds me”; use そういえば for sudden memories.

旅行といえば、去年の写真を見ましたか？

Ryokō to ieba, kyonen no shashin o mimashita ka?

Speaking of travel, did you see last year's photos?

寿司といえば、新しい店ができましたよ。

Sushi to ieba, atarashii mise ga dekimashita yo.

Speaking of sushi, a new place opened.

そういえば、___。

Sō ieba, ___.

That reminds me, ___.

Meaning: That reminds me, ___.

When to use: Use そういえば when you remember something triggered by the current conversation.

Tip: Often confused with といえば — そういえば is for a memory, といえば ties topics together.

そういえば、鍵を見つけましたよ。

Sō ieba, kagi o mitsukemashita yo.

That reminds me, I found the keys.

そういえば、明日は会議がありましたね。

Sō ieba, ashita wa kaigi ga arimashita ne.

That reminds me, there's a meeting tomorrow.

話は変わりますが、___。

Hanashi wa kawarimasu ga, ___.

On another note, ___.

Meaning: On another note, ___.

When to use: Use 話は変わりますが to shift politely to a different topic; follow with a full sentence.

話は変わりますが、来月の出張について話せますか？

Hanashi wa kawarimasu ga, raigetsu no shucchō ni tsuite hanasemasu ka?

On another note, can we talk about next month's business trip?

話は変わりますが、新しいプロジェクトが始まります。

Hanashi wa kawarimasu ga, atarashii purojekuto ga hajimarimasu.

On another note, a new project is starting.

忘れないうちに、___。

Wasurenai uchi ni, ___.

Before I forget, ___.

Meaning: Before I forget, ___.

When to use: Use 忘れないうちに to bring up something you don't want to forget to say.

忘れないうちに、上司にメールを送りましたか？

Wasurenai uchi ni, jōshi ni mēru o okurimashita ka?

Before I forget, did you email the boss?

忘れないうちに、買い物リストを渡しますね。

Wasurenai uchi ni, kaimono risuto o watashimasu ne.

Before I forget, I'll give you the shopping list.

___について、少し話してもいいですか。

___ ni tsuite, sukoshi hanashite mo ii desu ka.

Can we talk about ___ for a minute?

Meaning: Can we talk about ___ for a minute?

When to use: Use ___について、少し話してもいいですか to politely ask to switch to a particular topic; insert a noun in ___.

経費について、少し話してもいいですか。

Keihi ni tsuite, sukoshi hanashite mo ii desu ka?

Can we talk about expenses for a minute?

来週のスケジュールについて、少し話してもいいですか。

Raishū no sukejūru ni tsuite, sukoshi hanashite mo ii desu ka?

Can we talk a bit about next week's schedule?

___について聞きたかったんですが。

___ ni tsuite kikitakatta n desu ga.

I wanted to ask you about ___.

Meaning: I wanted to ask you about ___.

When to use: Use ___について聞きたかったんですが to introduce a question gently; insert a noun in ___.

Tip: Beginners sometimes drop んですが and sound too direct; keep んですが to soften the question.

プロジェクトの期限について聞きたかったんですが。

Purojekuto no kigen ni tsuite kikitakatta n desu ga.

I wanted to ask about the project's deadline.

あなたの意見について聞きたかったんですが。

Anata no iken ni tsuite kikitakatta n desu ga.

I wanted to ask about your opinion.

話題を変えましょう。

Wadai o kaemashō.

Let's change the subject.

Meaning: Let's change the subject.

When to use: Use 話題を変えましょう when you clearly want to move away from the current topic; casual: 話を変えよう。

この件については一旦終わりにして、話題を変えましょう。

Kono ken ni tsuite wa ichidan owari ni shite, wadai o kaemashō.

Let's finish this matter for now and change the subject.

雰囲気を変えるために、話題を変えましょうか。

Fun'iki o kaeru tame ni, wadai o kaemashō ka?

Shall we change the subject to change the mood?

じゃあ、___に戻りましょう。

Jā, ___ ni modorimashō.

Anyway, back to ___.

Meaning: Anyway, back to ___.

When to use: Use じゃあ、___に戻りましょう to return to the main topic after a side discussion; insert a topic in ___.

じゃあ、議題Aに戻りましょう。

Jā, gidai A ni modorimashō.

Anyway, let's return to agenda item A.

じゃあ、仕事の話に戻りましょう。

Jā, shigoto no hanashi ni modorimashō.

Anyway, back to talking about work.

___の話に戻ると、___。

___ no hanashi ni modoru to, ___.

Going back to ___, ___.

Meaning: Going back to ___, ___.

When to use: Use ___の話に戻ると to reconnect to an earlier topic; put the topic in the first ___.

予算の話に戻ると、いくつか削減案があります。

Yosan no hanashi ni modoru to, ikutsu ka sakugen-an ga arimasu.

Going back to the budget, there are several reduction ideas.

旅行の話に戻ると、夏が一番いいですね。

Ryokō no hanashi ni modoru to, natsu ga ichiban ii desu ne.

Going back to travel, summer is best, isn't it?

ちょっと話がそれますが、___。

Chotto hanashi ga soremasu ga, ___.

This is a bit off topic, but ___

Meaning: This is a bit off topic, but ___.

When to use: Use ちょっと話がそれますが to warn the listener you're temporarily going off topic; follow with a sentence.

ちょっと話がそれますが、新しい同僚を紹介します。

Chotto hanashi ga soremasu ga, atarashii dōryō o shōkai shimasu.

This is a bit off topic, but let me introduce a new colleague.

ちょっと話がそれますが、来週イベントがあります。

Chotto hanashi ga soremasu ga, raishū ibento ga arimasu.

This is a bit off topic, but there's an event next week.

別の話をしてもいいですか。

Betsu no hanashi o shite mo ii desu ka.

Can I bring up something else?

Meaning: Can I bring up something else?

When to use: Use 別の話をしてもいいですか to politely ask permission to introduce a different topic.

別の話をしてもいいですか。給料について聞きたいです。

Betsu no hanashi o shite mo ii desu ka. Kyūryō ni tsuite kikitai desu.

Can I bring up something else? I want to ask about salary.

別の話をしてもいいですか。週末の計画を話したいです。

Betsu no hanashi o shite mo ii desu ka. Shūmatsu no keikaku o hanashitai desu.

Can I bring up something else? I'd like to talk about weekend plans.

もう一つ言いたいことがあります。

Mō hitotsu iitai koto ga arimasu.

There's something else I wanted to mention.

Meaning: There's something else I wanted to mention.

When to use: Use もう一つ言いたいことがあります when you have an additional point to add politely.

もう一つ言いたいことがあります。資料を送ります。

Mō hitotsu iitai koto ga arimasu. Shiryō o okurimasu.

There's one more thing I wanted to mention. I'll send the materials.

もう一つ言いたいことがあります。締め切りを延ばせますか？

Mō hitotsu iitai koto ga arimasu. Shimekiri o nobasemasu ka?

There's one more thing I wanted to say. Can we extend the deadline?

Japanese - Topic Changes

1. Reading + Listening Practice

2. Conversational Listening Practice

3. Guided Practice

Which phrase means 'That reminds me, ...'?

Which phrase politely asks permission to bring up a different topic?

Which phrase is best to use when you want to return to an earlier topic?

Which phrase softens a direct question when you want to ask about a topic?

Anyway, back to progress, let's confirm this week's goals.

I wanted to ask about the project: can we increase the budget?

Before bringing up a different topic in the meeting, I want to get permission. Can I bring up something else?

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice