とき — When / At the Time Of
Expresses 'when' a certain time or situation occurs. Used for habitual situations, specific moments, and general conditions.
Structure
[Plain form / Noun + の / な-adj + な] + とき(に)
Examples
困ったとき、いつでも相談してください。
Komatta toki, itsu demo soudan shite kudasai.
When you're in trouble, please consult me anytime.
困った + とき = when [you are] in trouble
子供のとき、よく泣いていた。
Kodomo no toki, yoku naite ita.
When I was a child, I often cried.
子供 + の + とき = during childhood
ひまなとき、よく散歩をします。
Hima na toki, yoku sanpo o shimasu.
When I'm free, I often take walks.
ひま (な-adj) + な + とき = when (I'm) free
• Tense before とき matters: 行くとき (when about to go / on the way) vs 行ったとき (when you've arrived / after going). • Nouns connect with の (子供のとき), な-adjectives with な (元気なとき). • とき or とき に — に pins it to a specific point in time.
Commonly confused with
The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones とき is tested against.
vs 間に (あいだに)
間に = 'during the interval while' something else is ongoing, expecting an action within that span (寝ている間に). とき = the general moment/time when something is/was so.
vs たら
たら stresses 'once/after A happens, then B'; とき simply frames the time 'when' A is/was true, without the sequential 'once done' feel.
More time expressions
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