1.
when, at the time of
Used after verbs, adjectives, or nouns to create temporal clauses meaning 'when' or 'at the time of.' Functions as a dependent noun that describes the timing of the main clause.
日本に行った時、富士山を見ました。
When I went to Japan, I saw Mt. Fuji.
Past tense + 時
暇な時に来てください。
Please come when you have free time.
Na-adjective + な + 時
困った時は連絡してください。
When you're in trouble, please contact me.
分からない時は先生に聞いてください。何度聞いても大丈夫です。
When you don't understand, please ask the teacher. It's fine to ask as many times as you want.
買い物をする時は、いつも値段を比べてから買うようにしている。
When I go shopping, I always try to compare prices before buying.
GRAMMAR PATTERNS:
- Verb (plain) + 時: 食べる時 (when eating)
- Verb (た form) + 時: 食べた時 (when [I] ate)
- い-adjective + 時: 若い時 (when young)
- な-adjective + な + 時: 暇な時 (when free)
- Noun + の + 時: 子供の時 (when [I was] a child)
TENSE NUANCE:
- 行く時 = when going (before/during)
- 行った時 = when [I] went (completed action)
This tense distinction is important: dictionary form emphasizes the time before or during the action, while た form emphasizes after the action is complete.
Often followed by particles like は or に: 時は (when..., as for), 時に (at the time when).