Japanese grammar
What does ～とき mean? Japanese grammar N5
～とき means when...; at the time....
| Level (estimated, JLPT framework) | N5 |
|---|---|
| Structure | Verb plain form + とき い-adjective + とき な-adjective + な + とき Noun + の + とき |
| Romaji | toki |
| Meaning | when...; at the time... |
Forming it
| Connection | Verb-casual + とき / i-adjective + とき / na-adjective + なとき / Noun + のとき |
|---|
How to use it
State the time or situation in which the following clause happens.
- The tense of the verb BEFORE 「とき」 determines the order: 「日本へ行くとき」 = before arriving (haven't arrived yet), 「日本へ行ったとき」 = after having arrived.
- A noun must have 「の」: 「子どものとき」, not 「子どもとき」.
Examples
公園で遊ぶとき、帽子をかぶりましょう。
When you play in the park, let’s wear a hat.
子どものとき、よく川で泳ぎました。
When I was a child, I often swam in the river.
Keep in mind
- Can also be written in kanji as 「時」.
Common mistakes
-
Wrong子どもとき、よく川で泳ぎました。
When I was a child, I often swam in the river.
Correct子どものとき、よく川で泳ぎました。
A noun connecting to 「とき」 must go through 「の」.
-
Wrong公園で遊びますとき、帽子をかぶりましょう。
When you play in the park, let's wear a hat.
Correct公園で遊ぶとき、帽子をかぶりましょう。
Before 「とき」, use the PLAIN form, not the ます form.
Exam tips
- 行くとき = before arriving; 行ったとき = after having arrived.