GRAMMAR DETAIL

ところを

even though you are · despite being

Expresses gratitude or apology for making a request or causing an interruption despite being aware of the other person's circumstances.

Examples

お忙しいところをお越しいただき、ありがとうございます。

Thank you for coming despite your busy schedule.

お休みのところを失礼します。

I am sorry to disturb you while you are resting.

Structure: Follow an expression of the other person's circumstances with ところを to show consideration when making a request or expressing gratitude or apology for their effort or an interruption.
Basic usage: お忙しいところをお越しいただき、ありがとうございます。 thanks the other person while acknowledging the effort of coming despite being busy.

Connecting descriptions of a state
- Use an i-adjective in お忙しいところを and a noun expression with の in お休みのところを. Following it with thanks or an apology acknowledges the other person's circumstances.
Function compared with ところに
- 休んでいるところに電話が来た locates a phone call during a rest. お休みのところを失礼します conveys an apology for interrupting the other person's rest.