時
When/at the Time
Use 時 (とき) to set the time frame for a sentence. It functions like a noun, meaning it follows standard noun modification rules.
How It Works
時（とき） is grammatically a noun, so you must connect it correctly based on the word type preceding it:
- Verbs: Use the plain form. Dictionary form (行く時) for actions not yet completed, Past form (行った時) for completed actions, Continuous form (食べている時) for ongoing actions, or Negative form (行かない時).
- い-adjectives: Use the plain form (忙しい時).
- な-adjectives: Add な (暇な時) or だった (暇だった時) for past emphasis.
- Nouns: Add の (子供の時) or だった (子供だった時) for past emphasis.
Relative Tense Nuance:
1. Dictionary Form + 時: The action in the first part hasn't happened yet when the main action occurs.
2. Past Form + 時: The action in the first part is already finished when the main action occurs.
3. Nouns/Adjectives: Both non-past and past forms are valid. Using the past form (e.g., 暇だった時) emphasizes that the state is no longer true.
Usage Notes:
- Writing: While the kanji 時 is common, it is often written in hiragana (とき) when used as a grammatical conjunction.
- Restrictions: Do not use 時 with specific time nouns like 朝（あさ - morning） or 昨日（きのう - yesterday）. Instead of '朝の時', simply use '朝' or '朝に'.
Particles after 時:
You can add particles to change the focus: 時に (at the specific time), 時は (as for the time when...), or 時も (also at the time when...).
Examples (6)
- 日本に行く時、カメラを買いました。
When I was going to Japan, I bought a camera.
Word by Word: Japan to go time, camera (object) bought.
Using the dictionary form 行く（いく） means the camera was bought before arriving in Japan (e.g., at the airport or before leaving).
- 日本に行った時、カメラを買いました。
When I went to Japan, I bought a camera.
Word by Word: Japan to went time, camera (object) bought.
Using the past form 行った（いった） means the camera was bought after the person had already arrived in Japan.
- 暇な時、アニメを見ます。
When I am free, I watch anime.
Word by Word: Free (na) time, anime (object) watch.
Since 暇（ひま） is a な-adjective, we must use な to connect it to the noun 時.
- 子供の時、納豆が嫌いでした。
When I was a child, I hated natto.
Word by Word: Child (possessive) time, natto (subject) dislike was.
Nouns like 子供（こども） require the particle の to modify 時. While 子供だった時 is also correct to emphasize the past state, 子供の時 is very common.
- 天気がいい時、公園を散歩します。
When the weather is good, I take a walk in the park.
Word by Word: Weather (subject) good time, park (object) stroll do.
い-adjectives like いい connect directly to 時 in their plain form.
- ご飯を食べている時、電話が鳴りました。
While I was eating a meal, the phone rang.
Word by Word: Meal (object) eating time, phone (subject) rang.
The ている form is used with 時 to indicate an action that was ongoing at that specific moment.
Common Mistakes
Matching the tense of the 時 clause to the final verb's tense unnecessarily.
日本に行った時、チケットを買いました。日本に行く時、チケットを買いました。If you bought the ticket before going to Japan, you must use the dictionary form 行く, even if the whole story happened in the past. Using 行った implies you bought the ticket after you already arrived.
Using 時 with simple time nouns like 'morning' or 'yesterday'.
朝の時、コーヒーを飲みます。朝、コーヒーを飲みます。時 is for events or states. For specific times of day like 朝, just use the noun alone or with the particle に.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand '時' (when/at the time), you need to know how to modify nouns with verbs, adjectives, and other nouns. Since '時' acts as a noun, it requires the plain form of verbs (including the past 'た' form) or the particle 'の' when following another noun.
- Noun Modification
The pattern '時' functions as a noun that is modified by a preceding clause, following the standard rules of Japanese noun modification.
Level 1 - た形Plain Past
The plain past form is frequently used before '時' to indicate an action that was completed at the time of the main clause.
Level 2 - のPossessive/nominalizer
When '時' is preceded by a noun, the particle 'の' is required to link them (e.g., 子供の時).
Level 1
Related Patterns
- たらIf/when (Completed)
While 時 focuses on the specific time something happens, たら focuses on the condition or the sequence (After A happens, then B).
Level 2 - 間During/while
Used to describe an action that happens 'during' or 'while' a certain time period, whereas 時 is more general.
Level 2 - ながらWhile Doing
Used for two actions happening simultaneously by the same person, while 時 sets a broader time frame.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice 時 in Bubblegum
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