～際(に) — On The Occasion Of
A formal equivalent of とき, meaning 'when / on the occasion of / at the time of'. It marks a special or notable occasion for doing something and is common in announcements, signage, and polite or business contexts. Because it is formal, it suits significant events rather than everyday moments.
Structure
[Verb dictionary / た-form] / [Noun + の] + 際(に)
Examples
お降りの際は、足元にご注意ください。
Oori no sai wa, ashimoto ni gochuui kudasai.
When getting off, please watch your step.
お降りの + 際 = polite 'on the occasion of alighting'
ご来店の際には、会員証をご提示ください。
Goraiten no sai ni wa, kaiinshou wo goteiji kudasai.
When visiting the store, please present your membership card.
ご来店の + 際に = formal 'at the time of your visit'
非常の際は、このボタンを押してください。
Hijou no sai wa, kono botan wo oshite kudasai.
In case of emergency, please press this button.
非常の + 際 = 'on the occasion of an emergency'
• Register: formal/written; used in notices, announcements, and business/keigo contexts. • Attaches to nouns via の, and to verbs in dictionary or た-form. • For casual everyday situations, use とき instead.
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones ～際(に) is tested against.
vs とき
とき is the neutral everyday 'when', usable in any register; 際(に) is formal and reserved for notable occasions and polite/written contexts.
vs 場合(に)
場合 emphasizes a hypothetical 'in the case/event that ~'; 際 emphasizes the timing/occasion of doing something.
More time expressions
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