際(さい)

さい
noun, suffix
occasion, time, when
formalgrammaticaltime-general
1. occasion, time, when
The time or circumstance when something happens.
お会(あ)いした際(さい)
When I met you.
帰国(きこく)の際(さい)
When returning to one's country.
その際(さい)は連絡(れんらく)ください。
Please contact me on that occasion.
申込(もうしこ)みの際(さい)は、身分(みぶん)証明書(しょうめいしょ)をご持参(じさん)ください。
When applying, please bring identification.

際(さい) indicates an occasion or timing.

Common patterns

  • 〜の際(さい) (when ~, on the occasion of ~)
  • 〜た際(さい)(は) (when [past event])
  • この際(さい) (at this point, while we're at it)
  • いざという際(さい) (in case of emergency)

Register

  • 際(さい) is formal/written style
  • 時(とき) is the neutral equivalent

Similar

Related Words

Synonym: 時(とき) (when (neutral))
Synonym: 場合(ばあい) (case, situation)
general
Added 2026.1.11 17:55 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
02500/02819_sai