Meaning
Marks the time of an action or state.
Formation
- とき is preceded by a modifying form — Vる / Vた / Aい / Aな / Nの
- With action verbs, Vるとき usually means before or during the second event and Vたとき after the first event is done; with state verbs such as いる, Vたとき simply means 'when (it was)': 日本にいたとき
When to use it
- Core use
- Marks the time of an action or state
Examples
13 sentences-
日本へ行ったとき写真を撮りました
When I went to Japan, I took photographs.
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暇なとき本を読みます
I read books when I am free.
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駅で友達に会った時、この写真を見せました
When I met my friend at the station, I showed them this photograph.
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朝起きたとき窓を開けます
When I get up in the morning, I open the window.
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道が分からないとき地図を見ます
When I do not know the way, I look at a map.
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子どものときよく祖父の庭で遊びました
When I was a child, I often played in my grandfather's garden.
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暇なとき古い写真を見ます
When I have free time, I look at old photos.
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寒いときこのコートを着ます
When it is cold, I wear this coat.
5 more examples
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家を出るとき窓を閉めてください
Please close the window when you leave home.
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駅に着いたとき母に電話しました
When I arrived at the station, I called my mother.
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日本へ行くとき空港で辞書を買いました
On my way to Japan I bought a dictionary at the airport.
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忙しいときよく忘れ物をします
When I am busy, I often forget things.
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学生のときはこの町に住んでいました
When I was a student, I lived in this town.
Important notes
- The form before とき shows timing relative to the main event: 行くとき (on the way, before arriving), 行ったとき (after getting there). Nouns take の and na-adjectives な: 子供のとき, 暇なとき.
Common mistakes
- Do not use だ before とき: 暇なとき, not 暇だとき; 子供のとき, not 子供だとき.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
Hear it in podcasts
The pattern appears in these episodes. They open in the app with the transcript and translation.
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