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“place; point; moment” (ところ) · How people really talk
いいところ→いいとこ

ところ simply drops its last sound ろ. It keeps all its uses: a place (いいとこ “a nice place”), a part or point (そういうとこ “that side of you”), and a moment (今行くとこ “I’m just about to go”).

Use it withFriends OKCoworkers OKBoss / teacher careful

Casual and very common. Neutral in feeling; fine with most people except in formal talk.

602 lines with とこ from 172 comedians in the library · Counts updated 2026-10-09
Audience laughter in this scene0:18
Mumyoin Taku · Flip Cards

A performer doing a flip-card routine remarks that it has turned into a surprisingly pretty one instead of a normal one.

The words appear when the audience laughs.

Nice, I found a good spot!

Textbookいいですね。いいところを見つけましたよ。「いいところ」 ('a good spot') is shortened to 「いいとこ」; plain past 「見つけた」 replaces 「見つけました」, rough 「ぞ」 replaces 「よ」, and 「いいね」 is the plain form of 「いいですね」.

Speed: fast
All lines
Audience laughter in this scene0:17
Kaseki Compass · My Seat

One performer anxiously checks whether something has a layer in between or is touching directly.

The words appear when the audience laughs.

Phew! If it had been direct, I'd have eaten it.

Textbook危なかったです。直接だったら、食べてしまうところでした。「〜ところだった」 ('almost did') is shortened to 「とこだった」; 「食べてしまう」 also contracts to 「食べちゃう」.

Speed: normal
All lines
Audience laughter in this scene0:18
Mouflons · Go After Her

One performer urges the other to go after their girlfriend.

The words appear when the audience laughs.

Go to her right now

Textbook今から彼女のところに行ってください。「ところ」 (place) is shortened to 「とこ」, and the particle 「に」 is dropped: 「彼女のところに行って」 → 「彼女のとこ行って」.

Speed: fast
All lines
Audience laughter in this scene0:17
Buriki Karasu · The Bathhouse That Keeps Going Off the Rails

In a bathhouse sketch, they're talking about the sauna and someone's "bad parts," and one asks if the other knows the word "detox."

Culture note Daisuke Matsuzaka is a famous Japanese pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox.

The words appear when the audience laughs.

That's where Matsuzaka was, right?

Textbook松坂選手がいたところですよね。"ところ" (place) is clipped to "とこ" in casual speech: "いたところ" becomes "いたとこ", "the place where he was."

Speed: fast
All lines
Audience laughter in this scene0:15
Mozzarella Kibun · Sushi Shop

A customer at a sushi shop is baffled because the chef seems to be kneading something like soba dough.

Culture note Customers often call the owner-chef of a sushi bar 'Taishō' (boss).

The words appear when the audience laughs.

I think I came to the wrong place!

Textbook何だか、来るところを間違えました。「来るところ」 ('the place to come') is shortened to 「来るとこ」; 「何だか」 also becomes casual 「なんか」.

Speed: fast
All lines

More lines with とこ

From other routines in the library. Automatic transcripts, not yet checked line by line.

Quick answers

What does とこ mean?

とこ means “place; point; moment” (ところ). ところ simply drops its last sound ろ. It keeps all its uses: a place (いいとこ “a nice place”), a part or point (そういうとこ “that side of you”), and a moment (今行くとこ “I’m just about to go”).

Is とこ rude? Who can you say it to?

With friends: OK. With coworkers: OK. With a boss or teacher: careful. Casual and very common. Neutral in feeling; fine with most people except in formal talk.

How common is とこ in real speech?

In 2,334 live comedy routines, とこ appears in 602 lines from 172 comedians.

How people really talk

〜てる〜とく〜ねえわかんないつまんないなんかお前俺ほんとにやっぱり／やっぱ全然いい〜でしょ〜じゃないですか〜っす〜すんな〜らんない〜だもん〜かもこっち／どっちそりゃ〜って言った／っつった〜ちょうだい〜かな〜っぽい〜わけない〜じゃん〜てく〜ぞあいつやつどっか〜って〜とか〜てくれ〜よな