とき
toki
When; at this time
Expresses that an action or state happens at the time when another action or state occurs.
How to form it
Attach to the plain form of verbs (dictionary, past, negative), to nouns followed by の, or directly to な-adjective stems followed by な. For い-adjectives, attach directly to their plain form.
What it means
とき means 'when' and is used to talk about the time when something happens or is the case. The clause before とき describes a situation, and the main clause describes what happens at that time. The tense of the verb before とき shows whether the situation is completed or not at the time of the main action. For example, with a past form before とき, the action is completed before the main action; with a non-past form, it is simultaneous or future. Use の after nouns to connect them to とき, as in 学生のとき ('when I was a student'). For な-adjectives, use な before とき, like 元気なとき ('when I am well').
Example sentences
子供のとき、よく公園で遊びました。
Kodomo no toki, yoku kōen de asobimashita.
When I was a child, I often played in the park.
電車を待つとき、本を読みます。
Densha o matsu toki, hon o yomimasu.
When I wait for the train, I read a book.
日本に行ったとき、富士山を見ました。
Nihon ni itta toki, Fujisan o mimashita.
When I went to Japan, I saw Mt. Fuji.
Don’t confuse it with
とき vs. ながら
とき focuses on the point or period of time when something happens, while ながら means 'while doing' and describes two simultaneous actions by the same person. For example, 音楽を聞きながら勉強します means 'I study while listening to music', but 音楽を聞くとき、勉強します would sound odd because it suggests studying only happens at the moment of listening.
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Standard, neutral; used in both speaking and writing at all levels of formality.
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21Questions
What does とき mean?
When; at this time. Expresses that an action or state happens at the time when another action or state occurs.
How do you form とき?
Attach to the plain form of verbs (dictionary, past, negative), to nouns followed by の, or directly to な-adjective stems followed by な. For い-adjectives, attach directly to their plain form.
Example of とき in a sentence
子供のとき、よく公園で遊びました。 — When I was a child, I often played in the park.
とき vs. ながら — what is the difference?
とき focuses on the point or period of time when something happens, while ながら means 'while doing' and describes two simultaneous actions by the same person. For example, 音楽を聞きながら勉強します means 'I study while listening to music', but 音楽を聞くとき、勉強します would sound odd because it suggests studying only happens at the moment of listening.
What JLPT level is とき?
JLPT N5 (beginner), number 20 of 80 in Nihoner's learning order for N5.
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