At a glance
それはそうと means "that aside" or "anyway, by the way". It sets aside what was just said and moves the conversation to a different topic, which does not need to be related to the first one.
[Sentence A]。それはそうと、[Sentence B]。
暑いですね。それはそうと、昼ご飯はもう食べましたか。 It's hot, isn't it? Anyway, have you had lunch yet?
How to form it
それはそうと is a connector. It does not conjugate.
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Start of the new sentence (B), after sentence A, usually followed by a comma |
| What comes before | A remark by you or by the other person |
| What comes after | The new topic: a statement, question or suggestion |
| Register | Conversation, both casual and polite. Politeness is shown by sentence B, not by それはそうと |