At the time A
寒い時にこたつに入るのは幸せです。
I'm happy when I get into (under) a kotatsu when it's cold.
22
その時パレードが通り過ぎていった。
There was a parade going by at the time.
19
電話をしている時に騒がないで！
Don't make noise when I'm on the phone!
18
他の人が遊んでいる時、彼だけは勉強していた。
While the others were playing, he was the only one studying.
6
会社から帰っている時に、大きな事故を見ました。
I saw a large accident when I was coming home from work.
Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
Basic Examples:
読む時 (when reading)
寒い時 (when it's cold)
若い時 (When (I was) young)
遅い時 (when (I'm) late)
子供の時 (When (I was) a child)
練習した時 (When (I) studied)
運転している時 (When (I'm) driving)
Related Expressions
最中
間／間に
際／際に／際は
間／間に
際／際に／際は
Where this grammar is found
Grammar usage notes
Verb A + 時, if the second clause of the sentence took place after Verb A, then Verb A is in the short past form (かった). If the second clause takes place during or before Verb A, then Verb A is in the present short form, regardless of overall tense of the sentence.
Three time relations exist between A and B:
- A and B take place simultaneously. (A=B)
- When A is completed, B takes place. (A->B)
- B takes place when A has yet to be completed. (B->A)
A's form determines how A and B are time-related.
B's form determines the overall tense of the sentence ('now').
Four combinations are possible:
#1. Verb A non-past 時、B non-past。(A=B, B->A)
#2. Verb A non-past 時、B past。(A=B, B->A)
#3. Verb A past 時、B non-past。(A->B)
#4. Verb A past 時、B past。(A->B)
Form #1:
日本へ行く時、飛行機で行きます。(A=B)
When I go to Japan, I will go by plane.
(Simultaneous.)
Form #2:
日本へ行く時、飛行機で行きました。(A=B)
When I went to Japan, I went by plane.
(Simultaneous.)
Form #1:
練る時、めざましどけいをかけます。(B->A)
When I go to bed, I set my alarm clock.
(I set my alarm clock before going to bed.)
Form #2:
練る時、めざましどけいをかけました。(B->A)
Same as above but past tense.
Form #3:
日本へ行った時、電話をします。(A->B)
When I get to Japan, I'll call you.
Form #4:
日本へ行った時、電話をしました。(A->B)
When I got to Japan, I called you.
- A and B take place simultaneously. (A=B)
- When A is completed, B takes place. (A->B)
- B takes place when A has yet to be completed. (B->A)
A's form determines how A and B are time-related.
B's form determines the overall tense of the sentence ('now').
Four combinations are possible:
#1. Verb A non-past 時、B non-past。(A=B, B->A)
#2. Verb A non-past 時、B past。(A=B, B->A)
#3. Verb A past 時、B non-past。(A->B)
#4. Verb A past 時、B past。(A->B)
Form #1:
日本へ行く時、飛行機で行きます。(A=B)
When I go to Japan, I will go by plane.
(Simultaneous.)
Form #2:
日本へ行く時、飛行機で行きました。(A=B)
When I went to Japan, I went by plane.
(Simultaneous.)
Form #1:
練る時、めざましどけいをかけます。(B->A)
When I go to bed, I set my alarm clock.
(I set my alarm clock before going to bed.)
Form #2:
練る時、めざましどけいをかけました。(B->A)
Same as above but past tense.
Form #3:
日本へ行った時、電話をします。(A->B)
When I get to Japan, I'll call you.
Form #4:
日本へ行った時、電話をしました。(A->B)
When I got to Japan, I called you.
If you would like to refer to a specific event such as "Time to sleep" or "Time to eat", you would use 「時間」(じかん) rather than 「時」.
For example, 食べる時間 would mean "Time to eat" while 食べる時 would mean "When (subject) eats".
The 間 binds the time-frame as an event in itself rather than just referencing the time.
For example, 食べる時間 would mean "Time to eat" while 食べる時 would mean "When (subject) eats".
The 間 binds the time-frame as an event in itself rather than just referencing the time.
Questions/Discussion
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