～とき
When something happens
You’ll be able to describe when something happens by anchoring it to another event.
家を出るとき、電気を消します。
ie o deru toki, denki o keshimasu.
What do you think this sentence means?
I turn off the lights when I leave home.
Say when something happens
Use とき after a verb, adjective, or noun phrase to mean “when…” or “at the time when…”. The form before とき describes the situation that frames the main event.
料理をするとき、音楽を聞きます。
ryouri o suru toki, ongaku o kikimasu.
When I cook, I listen to music.
After verbs
Use a plain verb form before とき. The choice between non-past and past can affect whether the action is viewed as not yet completed or already completed at that reference point.
寝るとき、電気を消します。
neru toki, denki o keshimasu.
When I go to bed, I turn off the light.
日本に行ったとき、京都にも行きました。
nihon ni itta toki, kyouto ni mo ikimashita.
When I went to Japan, I also went to Kyoto.
困ったとき、先生に聞きます。
komatta toki, sensei ni kikimasu.
When I have trouble, I ask the teacher.
After nouns
Use の between a noun and とき.
学生のとき、東京に住んでいました。
gakusei no toki, toukyou ni sunde imashita.
When I was a student, I lived in Tokyo.
子供のとき、よく公園で遊びました。
kodomo no toki, yoku kouen de asobimashita.
When I was a child, I often played in the park.
休みのとき、家族と会います。
yasumi no toki, kazoku to aimasu.
On my days off, I meet my family.
After な-adjectives
Use な between a な-adjective and とき.
暇なとき、映画を見ます。
hima na toki, eiga o mimasu.
When I am free, I watch movies.
静かなとき、本を読みます。
shizuka na toki, hon o yomimasu.
When it is quiet, I read a book.
必要なとき、電話してください。
hitsuyou na toki, denwa shite kudasai.
When you need to, please call.
After い-adjectives
Put an い-adjective directly before とき, with nothing in between.
忙しいとき、朝ご飯を食べないことがあります。
isogashii toki, asagohan o tabenai koto ga arimasu.
When I am busy, I sometimes skip breakfast.
寒いとき、コートを着ます。
samui toki, kooto o kimasu.
When it is cold, I wear a coat.
眠いとき、コーヒーを飲みます。
nemui toki, koohii o nomimasu.
When I am sleepy, I drink coffee.
～るとき vs ～たとき
Dictionary form before とき means the action has not happened yet (or is in progress). た-form before とき means the action is already completed at that point.
行くとき, before arriving / on the way
日本に行くとき、カメラを買いました。
nihon ni iku toki, kamera o kaimashita.
When I went (was going) to Japan, I bought a camera.
Bought before the trip or on the way to Japan.
行ったとき, after arriving
日本に行ったとき、カメラを買いました。
nihon ni itta toki, kamera o kaimashita.
When I went to Japan, I bought a camera.
Bought after arriving in Japan.
朝起きたとき、窓を開けます。
asa okita toki, mado o akemasu.
When I wake up in the morning, I open the window.
家を出るとき、鍵をかけます。
ie o deru toki, kagi o kakemasu.
When I leave home, I lock the door.
雨のとき、バスで学校へ行きます。
ame no toki, basu de gakkou e ikimasu.
When it rains, I go to school by bus.
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