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.
When you don't understand, please ask the teacher. It's fine to ask as many times as you want.
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:
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).