Welcome to Day 59 of our 100-day JLPT N5 challenge!
Today, we’ll learn an essential grammar point: ～とき. This particle is used to talk about “when” something happens. Understanding ～とき will help you describe your daily activities, routines, and past or future events clearly.
Mastering this will make your Japanese conversations much more natural and fluent—perfect for beginners aiming to reach JLPT N5.
Main Lesson: ～とき
Meaning
- ～とき = when / at the time of
- Use it to indicate the time when an action or situation occurs.
Structure
- Verb (dictionary form) + とき → When [verb happens] (general or future action)
- Example: いくとき → when I go
- Verb (た form) + とき → When [verb happened] (past action)
- Example: いったとき → when I went
- い-adjective + とき → When it is [adjective]
- Example: あついとき → when it is hot
- な-adjective / noun + な + とき → When [adjective/noun]
- Example: しずかなとき → when it is quiet
Key Notes
- とき can describe the exact moment or a general period of time.
- For formal sentences, use ます-form for verbs and polite adjectives.
- Pay attention to verb tense: dictionary form for present/future, た-form for past.
Vocabulary for Today
| Verb | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| あそぶ | asobu | to play |
| かく | kaku | to write/draw |
| みる | miru | to look/watch |
| だす | dasu | to take out/send |
| もつ | motsu | to hold |
| いく | iku | to go |
| Noun | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| はなや | hanaya | flower shop |
| ほんや | honya | bookstore |
| にわ | niwa | garden |
| ゆうびんきょく | yuubinkyoku | post office |
| しょうてんがい | shoutengai | shopping street |
| びじゅつかん | bijutsukan | art museum |
| ボール | booru | ball |
Example Sentences (～とき)
はなや へ いく とき、かさ を もって いきます。
(Hanaya e iku toki, kasa wo motte ikimasu.)
When I go to the flower shop, I take an umbrella.
ぎんこう に いった とき、さいふ を わすれました。
(Ginkou ni itta toki, saifu wo wasure mashita.)
When I went to the bank, I forgot my wallet.
びじゅつかん で みている とき、しゃしん を とって も いい ですか。
(Bijutsukan de miteiru toki, shashin wo totte mo ii desuka.)
When I am looking at the art museum, is it okay to take pictures?
にわ で あそぶ とき、ボール を つかいます。
(Niwa de asobu toki, booru wo tsukaimasu.)
When playing in the garden, I use a ball.
しょうてんがい を あるいた とき、くつ が ぬれました。
(Shoutengai wo aruita toki, kutsu ga nuremashita.)
When I walked in the shopping street, my shoes got wet.
はがき を だす とき、ゆうびんきょく に いきます。
(Hagaki wo dasu toki, yuubinkyoku ni ikimasu.)
When I send a postcard, I go to the post office.
ほんや で ほん を かう とき、さいふ を だします。
(Honya de hon wo kau toki, saifu wo dashimasu.)
When buying a book at the bookstore, I take out my wallet.
はな を かう とき、はなや に いきます。
(Hana wo kau toki, hanaya ni ikimasu.)
I go to the flower shop when I buy flowers
え を かく とき、たって かきます。
(E wo kaku toki, tatte kakimasu.)
When I draw a picture, I stand while drawing.
Conclusion
- ～とき is a versatile and easy way to describe when something happens.
- Remember: dictionary form = present/future, た-form = past.
- Use adjectives with proper な or い endings.
- Practice with your daily routines for natural fluency.
Keep consistent and use ～とき in your conversations today!
