～折(に) — On the Occasion Of
A polite, somewhat formal way to say 'on the occasion of / at the time when.' It refers to a specific opportunity or moment, often one that is favorable or special. Common in polite letters and formal speech, it is a refined equivalent of 時 (とき).
Structure
[Verb plain form / Noun の] + 折(に)
Examples
東京にいらっしゃった折には、ぜひお立ち寄りください。
Tōkyō ni irasshatta ori ni wa, zehi otachiyori kudasai.
When you come to Tokyo, please do stop by.
いらっしゃった (honorific past) + 折には = a polite 'on the occasion when you come.'
先日お会いした折に、その話を伺いました。
Senjitsu oai shita ori ni, sono hanashi o ukagaimashita.
When I met you the other day, I heard about that matter.
お会いした (humble past) + 折に refers politely to that specific occasion.
帰国の折には、お土産を買って帰ります。
Kikoku no ori ni wa, omiyage o katte kaerimasu.
On the occasion of returning home, I'll buy souvenirs to bring back.
帰国の (Noun + の) + 折には marks the occasion of returning home.
• Register: polite/formal; frequent in letters and greetings. • Often pairs with honorific/humble verbs. • 折 tends to refer to a good or notable opportunity, unlike neutral 時. • 折から / 折 also appears in set seasonal-greeting phrases (寒い折から).
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ～折(に) is tested against.
vs 時(に)
時 is the neutral, everyday word for 'when'; 折 is more polite, formal, and implies a special or opportune occasion.
vs 際(に)
際 is also formal but sounds more official/procedural ('at the time of doing X'); 折 feels softer and is favored in personal polite correspondence.
More time expressions
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