ところで vs それに: Topic Shift or Addition?

Have you ever felt this during JLPT reading practice?

You understand the words.
You understand most of the grammar.
But when you look at the answer choices, you suddenly start to hesitate.

One common reason is that you may be missing the role of connecting expressions.

In Japanese, expressions like ところで (tokorode / by the way) and それに (soreni / besides, moreover) do more than connect sentences. They tell you how the next sentence relates to the previous one.

And this is exactly where many JLPT N3 to N2 learners make mistakes.

The key point is simple:

ところで (tokorode / by the way) changes the topic.
それに (soreni / besides, moreover) adds more information.

Once you understand this difference, Japanese reading becomes much easier to follow.

ところで Means “By the Way” and Changes the Topic

ところで (tokorode / by the way) is used when the speaker stops the current topic and moves to a different one.

Look at this example:

今日はいい天気ですね。ところで、明日の会議は何時からですか。
It is nice weather today. By the way, what time does tomorrow’s meeting start?

The first sentence is about the weather.
The second sentence is about tomorrow’s meeting.

These two topics are not directly connected.

So when you see ところで, think:

• The topic is changing.
• The previous topic is being paused or finished.
• A new question or new subject may begin.

In JLPT reading, ところで is especially important in conversations. It often appears right before the speaker moves to the real point.

それに Means “Besides” and Adds Information

それに (soreni / besides, moreover) is used when the speaker adds more information to the same topic.

Look at this example:

この店は駅から近いです。それに、値段も安いです。
This restaurant is close to the station. Besides, the prices are also low.

The first sentence gives one good point: it is close to the station.
The second sentence adds another good point: it is inexpensive.

The topic has not changed.
Both sentences are about why the restaurant is good.

So when you see それに, think:

• More information is being added.
• The same topic continues.
• The writer or speaker may be strengthening an opinion.

In other words, それに is close to “also,” “besides,” or “on top of that.”

The Real JLPT Skill: Reading the Relationship Between Sentences

In JLPT reading, translating each sentence is not enough.

You also need to understand the relationship between sentences.

When you see ところで, the relationship is a topic shift.
When you see それに, the relationship is addition.

This small difference can completely change how you understand the passage.

Compare these two conversations:

A：このレストラン、料理がおいしいですね。
This restaurant’s food is delicious, isn’t it?

B：そうですね。それに、店員さんも親切ですね。
Yes. Besides, the staff are also kind.

Here, B adds another good point about the same restaurant.
So それに is natural.

Now compare this:

A：このレストラン、料理がおいしいですね。
This restaurant’s food is delicious, isn’t it?

B：そうですね。ところで、駅までどうやって行きますか。
Yes. By the way, how do we get to the station?

Here, B stops talking about the restaurant and starts talking about directions to the station.
So ところで is natural.

A Simple Way to Tell Them Apart

When you are not sure, ask yourself this question:

Does the next sentence add information to the previous sentence?

If yes, it is probably それに.

Now ask another question:

Does the next sentence move to a different topic?

If yes, it is probably ところで.

You can also remember them like this:

• ところで = topic change
• それに = information plus

This simple label can help you read Japanese passages more calmly and avoid unnecessary confusion.

Why This Matters for JLPT Reading Questions

Many JLPT learners lose points not because they do not know the vocabulary, but because they misunderstand the flow of the passage.

For example, the writer may be adding another reason, but the learner thinks the topic has changed.
Or the conversation may move to a new topic, but the learner thinks it is still continuing the same idea.

That small misunderstanding can make answer choices look confusing.

This is why ところで and それに are worth learning carefully.

They are not just “connection words.”
They are signs that show you how the text is moving.

Final Review: ところで Changes, それに Adds

Let’s review one more time.

ところで (tokorode / by the way) is used to change the topic.
It means the speaker is moving away from the previous topic and starting a new one.

それに (soreni / besides, moreover) is used to add information.
It keeps the same topic and adds another reason, detail, or point.

When reading JLPT passages, do not look only at the meaning of each sentence.
Look at the flow between sentences.

Is the topic changing?
Or is information being added?

That one question can make your reading much stronger.

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Start practicing smarter for JLPT here:

https://rapid-jt.com/

For more reading connectors, see the guide to Japanese connection expressions that improve JLPT reading. Connection Expressions That Improve JLPT Reading