折に
ori ni
When; at the time; on the occasion ~
Expresses 'on the occasion of' or 'at the time when', used in formal contexts.
How to form it
Attach to the plain past tense (V-た) or to nouns with の (e.g., 卒業の折に).
What it means
折に means 'on the occasion of' or 'when'. It is a formal expression commonly used in written language or polite speech. It often appears in set phrases like 折に触れて (from time to time) and 折に伺います (I will visit when the occasion arises). The nuance is more polite and literary than とき, suggesting a recognized opportunity or turning point. Avoid using it in casual conversation; it would sound stiff or overly formal. Note that 折に attaches to past tense verbs to mean 'when I did something', as in 伺った折に, and to nouns with の, as in お祝いの折に. It is not used with present or future tense verbs in the main clause, but the subordinate clause can use past tense form even for future events.
Example sentences
帰国の折に、先生のお宅に伺いました。
Kikoku no ori ni, sensei no otaku ni ukagaimashita.
I visited my teacher's house when I returned to my country.
卒業の折に、恩師に感謝の手紙を書きました。
Sotsugyō no ori ni, onshi ni kansha no tegami o kakimashita.
On the occasion of my graduation, I wrote a letter of thanks to my mentor.
お会いした折に、詳しいお話を伺います。
Oai shita ori ni, kuwashii ohanashi o ukagaimasu.
When we meet, I will ask for the details.
Don’t confuse it with
際に (sai ni)
Both mean 'on the occasion of', but 際に is more common in formal writing and speech, and can be used more flexibly. 折に is more literary and often implies a favorable or significant opportunity. For example, 際に can be used with ない-stem (e.g., 利用しない際に) but 折に cannot.
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Formal and literary; used in written language or polite speeches, not in casual conversation.
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77Questions
What does 折に mean?
When; at the time; on the occasion ~. Expresses 'on the occasion of' or 'at the time when', used in formal contexts.
How do you form 折に?
Attach to the plain past tense (V-た) or to nouns with の (e.g., 卒業の折に).
Example of 折に in a sentence
帰国の折に、先生のお宅に伺いました。 — I visited my teacher's house when I returned to my country.
際に (sai ni) — what is the difference?
Both mean 'on the occasion of', but 際に is more common in formal writing and speech, and can be used more flexibly. 折に is more literary and often implies a favorable or significant opportunity. For example, 際に can be used with ない-stem (e.g., 利用しない際に) but 折に cannot.
What JLPT level is 折に?
JLPT N1 (advanced), number 76 of 243 in Nihoner's learning order for N1.
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