GRAMMAR DETAIL
〜としたところで
Indicates that even if a hypothetical action were taken, the desired result would still be difficult to achieve.
Examples
今から急いだとしたところで、最終便には間に合わない。
Even if we hurried now, we would not make the last service.
Words used
説明したとしたところで、彼は納得しない。
Even if I explained it, he would not accept it.
Words used
今さら謝ったとしたところで、失った信頼は戻らない。
Even if you apologized now, the trust that was lost would not return.
Words used
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure:
としたところでfollows a hypothetical action and introduces the judgment that the desired result would still be difficult to achieve. - Basic usage:
今さら謝ったとしたところで、失った信頼は戻らない。judges that apologizing now would not recover the lost trust.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- Past fact versus a ta-form inside a supposition
急いだin今から急いだとしたところでsupposes hurrying from now onward. It does not report hurrying already done; the following間に合わないgives the limitation of that supposition.
- Unlike tokoro marking recent completion
説明したとしたところで納得しないsupposes an explanation that would still fail to convince.説明したところだlocates the speaker just after explaining, so its structure differs from the supposition containingとした.