とき (When)
When, At the time of
JLPT N4
Pattern
Plain form / Noun の + とき
How it works
とき means “when / at the time of”. With verbs, tense matters: 行くとき is before going (on the way), 行ったとき is after arriving. Nouns take の (子どものとき), な-adjectives take な.
Examples
- 子どもの とき、よく 川で あそびました。When I was a child, I often played in the river.
- 日本へ 行った とき、すしを 食べました。When I went to Japan, I ate sushi.
Related grammar
Further reading
Bunpro N4 · Lesson 2Put your practice together
Work through a complete paper at your own pace or choose a timed mock exam. No account is needed to begin.