とき

とき
noun
time, when
1. time, moment, occasion
A point or period in time; an occasion.
そのときは本当(ほんとう)(うれ)しかった。
I was really happy at that time.
2. when (conjunction)
Used after verbs or adjectives to mean 'when' or 'at the time that.'
(あつ)いときは(つめ)たい()(もの)がおいしい。
Cold drinks taste good when it's hot.
Conjunction usage
子供(こども)のとき、よく(あそ)んだ。
When I was a child, I played a lot.
(こま)ったときは相談(そうだん)してください。
Please consult me when you're in trouble.

WRITING NOTE:
Can be written as (とき) with kanji, but often written in hiragana, especially when used as a grammatical conjunction.

GRAMMAR PATTERNS:

  • V(plain) + とき (when doing V)
  • V(た) + とき (after doing V / when V happened)
  • A(い) + とき (when A)
  • N + の + とき (at the time of N)

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • そのとき (at that time)
  • このとき (at this time)
  • あのとき (at that time - past)
  • いつのときも (always, at any time)

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • とき vs. 場合(ばあい)
  • とき: general temporal "when"
  • 場合(ばあい): conditional "in the case that"