とき
🃏 Flashcard
とき
toki
Tap to reveal usage
when; at this time
N5
Tap to test your recall · +10 XP
📊 Pattern Stats
JLPT Level
N5
Beginner · Basic sentence structures
Reading
toki
Post ID
50673
Patterns today
0
0 / 10 daily goal
📝 Usage Notes
when; at this time
📖 How to use it
Expresses that an action or state happens at the time when another action or state occurs.
Attaches to
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.
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').
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.
Not 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.
Register
Standard, neutral; used in both speaking and writing at all levels of formality.
🎯 Quick Quiz
What does this grammar pattern mean or do?
とき
📚 How to Master This Pattern
Say It Aloud
Press Hear it and repeat とき three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.
Flip Before Reading
Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.
Write Two Sentences
Compose two original sentences using とき. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.
Spaced Review
Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.
🔗 More JLPT N5 Patterns
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What does the grammar pattern とき mean?
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When; at this time
What JLPT level is とき?
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Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N5 — Beginner · Basic sentence structures. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.
How do you use とき in a sentence?
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Attach とき (toki) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.
Is とき formal or casual Japanese?
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とき is used in both casual and polite contexts. It appears frequently in everyday conversation, textbooks, and simple written materials.
How can I remember とき long-term?
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Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.