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Here, 「ところ」 means the situation at that moment: doing something or being in a certain state.

Lesson notes · ≈ JLPT N2 · Intermediate 2

〜ところへ・に・を~tokoro e / ni / o

an event at that moment

Use 〜ところ with へ, に, or を to connect an event or action to the situation at that moment.

How it works

Here, 「ところ」 means the situation at that moment: doing something or being in a certain state.
A cyclist arrived while the person was walking. 「ところへ」 highlights a new event entering an ongoing situation.
Just when the person was in trouble after falling, someone spoke to them. 「ところに」 emphasizes the moment when an event happens.
With 「ところを」, the following action is directed at the situation at that moment. In the picture, someone supports a person about to fall.
「へ」 and 「に」 emphasize different aspects, but they are often interchangeable. You do not need to treat them as two absolute rules.

Use a verb in its plain form, such as 「歩いている」 or 「困っていた」, followed by 「ところ＋助詞」 (ところ + particle).

道みちmichiをo歩いあるいaruiてteいるiruところtokoroへ、え、e、後ろうしろushiroからkara自転車じてんしゃjitenshaがga来ました。きました。kimashita。
Just as I was walking along the road, a bicycle came up from behind.
転んころんkoronでde困っこまっkomatてteいたところitatokoroに、ni、近くちかくchikakuのno人ひとhitoがga声こえkoeをo

「昨日、きのう、階段かいだんで滑っすべって転倒てんとうしそうになったんです。」です。
"Yesterday, I slipped on the stairs and almost fell."
「それそれはわ危なかったですあぶなかったですね。大丈夫でしただいじょうぶでしたか。」か。
"That was close. Were you okay?"
「はい、はい、転倒てんとうしそうになったところを、近くちかくの人ひとが支えささえてくれたので大丈夫でした。」でだいじょうぶでした。
"Yes, just as I was about to fall, someone nearby supported me, so I was fine."

Level 1 · Recognise
Which sentence is correct?
Level 1 · Recognise
Listen and choose the meaning
Level 2 · Build
Put the words in order
When I lost my balance and was about to fall, my coworker supported me.
Level 3 · Use
What goes in the blank?
道を歩いている____、後ろから自転車が来ました。
While I was walking down the street, a bicycle came from behind.

かけ

kake

てte

くれました。kuremashita。

Just as I had fallen and was in trouble, someone nearby spoke to me.