means "when": the first half of the sentence gives the time, and the second half says what happens then. It goes after the plain form of a verb or an い-adjective; a な-adjective takes
and a noun takes
.
、。
When I was a child, I often played in the park.
、。
When I'm free, I watch films.
、。
When I'm lonely, I listen to music.
、。
When I don't understand, I ask the teacher.
Before とき, a noun needs の and a な-adjective needs な.
- × 子供とき → 子供のとき
- × 暇とき → 暇なとき
行くとき or 行ったとき
With a verb, the form before とき says whether that action is finished. The dictionary form means it has not happened yet; the た-form means it has. The end of the sentence sets the tense, so a past sentence can still have the dictionary form before とき.
、。
I bought a camera before I went to Japan.
Bought on the way – before getting there.
、。
I bought a camera when I was in Japan.
Bought after getting there.
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I turn off the light when I go to bed.
、。
When I got to the station, the train had already left.
Usage notes
These go beyond plain とき.
ときに
after とき pins the action to that moment. Without に the sentence means the same, so both are correct.
、。
Please call me when you leave.
ときは
after とき sets the time up as a topic: "when that happens, (do this)". It is common in advice and instructions.
、。
If you're ever in trouble, get in touch any time.
Lingaku