The 'I almost...' trick: 〜ところだった

Have you ever had one of those heart-stopping moments where something was on the verge of happening? Rushing to the station only to realize you forgot your wallet? 😱 Or about to say a silly idea in a meeting and stopping yourself just in time?

That's precisely when Japanese people use the nifty phrase「〜ところだった」(tokoro datta).

This isn't just dry grammar. It encapsulates a whole dramatic story of an action that was about to happen but, in the end, did not.

The 'Sigh of Relief' for Dodging a Bullet 😌

This is its most common use, expressing relief for a narrow escape.

• 危ない！車にひかれるところだった。 (That was close! I almost got hit by a car.) -> Conveys the feeling of shock, followed by relief for being safe.

• うっかりして、大事な会議を忘れるところだった。 (I was so careless, I almost forgot the important meeting.) -> A confession mixed with luck for having remembered just in time.

A Hint of 'Regret' for a Missed Opportunity 😢

「〜ところだった」can also be used to express regret when something good was close to happening but didn't materialize.

• あと一点で、試験に合格するところだったのに… (I almost passed the exam... if only I had one more point.) -> The tone here is full of regret, completely different from the relief mentioned above.

• もう少しで、終電に間に合うところだった。 (I was so close, I almost made the last train.)

Why is it so powerful?

It doesn't just state that something didn't happen. It conveys the accompanying emotion: relief, shock, or regret. Instead of saying「会議を忘れなかった」(I didn't forget the meeting) – which is very factual and dry – saying「会議を忘れるところだった」(I almost forgot the meeting) immediately lets the listener feel the drama of the situation.

Next time you have a 'narrow escape,' use this trick to tell your story with all the emotion it deserves! 😉