ところで

ところで is a sentence connector used to shift the topic of conversation. It signals a transition from what was being discussed to something new, often introducing a new subject or an unrelated remark. It is common in casual and semi-formal conversation, and can soften the change of topic so the listener doesn’t feel the jump is abrupt. It’s similar to saying “By the way…” or “Speaking of…” in English and can also be used to bring up sometimes relevant but tangential information. In questions or invitations, you can use it to steer the conversation politely before asking or suggesting something. Realistically, you’ll hear it in daily small talk, meetings, or messages when you want to introduce a new point without a strong break from the previous topic.