Japanese with Manga

About to go back for it with 〜とこだ

Grammar Explanation: Timing of an action with 〜ところだ

Outdoors on a grassy path, Mokuren, seen from behind with her hair in a bun, faces Tsubaki, who smiles with her eyes closed. Sazanka and another kunoichi stand behind Tsubaki.
くノ一ツバキの胸の内 » Volume 1 » Page 90

After lunch, Tsubaki is lost in thought when Mokuren calls her over. Mokuren tells her that today’s class will use the second scroll instead of the first.

ツバキ:
「ありがとうございますモクレン。」
“Thank you, Mokuren.”
モクレン:
「私(わたし)も取(と)りに戻(もど)るとこだから一緒(いっしょ)に行(い)こーよ。」
“I'm just about to go back for mine too, so let's go together.”

Key Points

1About to do something with 〜るとこだ
  • A dictionary-form verb plus ところだ says the action is about to start. とこ is the casual, clipped form of ところ.
  • Speakers often use it to say the timing works out. Mokuren is heading back anyway, so 一緒(いっしょ)に行(い)こーよ follows naturally.
2Going back to get with 取(と)りに戻(もど)る
  • A verb stem plus に before a verb of motion gives the purpose of the trip. 取(と)り is the stem of 取(と)る, “to get”, and 戻(もど)る is “to go back”, so 取(と)りに戻(もど)る is “go back to get it”.
  • The thing she’s getting goes unsaid. It’s the second scroll from the line before.
3A reason, then an invitation
  • から gives the reason, and the main clause invites Tsubaki along. In plain speech, から is the usual choice before an invitation.
  • 行(い)こー is the volitional 行(い)こう, “let’s go”, with the long vowel written ー. よ adds a friendly push.

Vocabulary

(I)

私(わたし) means “I” or “me”. It is the standard first-person pronoun in polite speech and is also common in casual speech among women.

(To take)

取(と)る means to take or obtain something. Its exact sense depends on what is being taken.

(Place)

とこ is a casual, shortened form of ところ, “place”.

(To go)

行(い)く means to go or move toward a place away from the speaker.

See Also

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