Using toki in Japanese -

Intermediate Lessons: 13
In this lesson, you will learn to use toki in Japanese (時 - とき) to express the time when some
states or actions exist or occur.

とき (toki) connects two sentences and expresses the time when the state or action described in
the main sentence takes place.

Let's take a look at the sentence patterns first...

Verb dict-form とき Main sentence

Verb ない-form とき Main sentence

Verb た-form とき Main sentence

い-adjective とき Main sentence

な-adjective + な とき Main sentence

Noun + の とき Main sentence

As shown above, the different forms of Verbs, い-adjectives, な-adjectives and Nouns that are
connected to とき are the same as the forms when nouns are modified.

Let's use some examples to show how to form sentences using toki in Japanese...

1. 図書館で本を借りる とき、カードが要ります。
toshokan de hon wo kariru toki, ka-do ga irimasu

Meaning: When you borrow books from the library, you need a card.
 2. 使い方が分からない とき、田中さんに聞いてください。
tsukaikata ga wakaranai toki, tanaka san ni kiite kudasai

Meaning: When you don't know how to use it, ask Ms Tanaka.
3. 体の調子が悪い とき、医者へ行きます。
karada no choushi ga warui toki, isha e ikimasu

Meaning: When I am not feeling well, I visit the doctor.

4. 暇な とき、テレビを見ます。
hima na toki, terebi wo mimasu

Meaning: I watch TV when I am free.

5. 母が病気の とき、会社を休みます。
haha ga byouki no toki, kaisha wo yasumimasu

Meaning: When my mother is sick, I take a day off work.

6. 学生の とき、あまり勉強しませんでした。
gakusei no toki, amari benkyoushimasen deshita

Meaning: When I was a student, I did not study much.

7. 子供の とき、よく海で泳ぎました。
kodomo no toki, yoku umi de oyogimashita

Meaning: I used to swim in the sea when I was a child.

Tense Does Not Matter in Adjective & Noun Sentences

The tense of adjective sentences and noun sentences which modify とき is not affected by the
tense of the main sentence.

In example 6 above, the English translation is "When I was a student, I did not study much".
You used past tense for both the first sentence and second (main) sentence. However in
Japanese, you don't need past tense for the noun sentence in front of とき (学生のとき - gakusei
no toki). Tense does not matter here.

In example 4 above, the English translation is "I watch TV when I am free". You can also say 暇
なとき、テレビを見ました (hima na toki, terebi wo mimashita), which translated to "I used
towatch TV when I was free". In both cases, it's still 暇なとき (hima na toki). The tense of the な-
adjective sentences in front of とき is not affected by the tense of the main sentences.

Let's use another two examples for toki in Japanese with adjective and noun sentences.

1. 母は若い とき、きれいでした。
haha wa wakai toki, kirei deshita
 Meaning: My mother was beautiful when she was young.
2. 鈴木さんは二十五歳の とき、結婚しました。
suzuki san wa nijuugo sai no toki, kekkon shimashita

Meaning: Mr Suzuki got married when he was 25 years old.

As you can see, both examples are talking about past events but the tense of the adjective and
noun sentences are not affected by the main sentences (in Japanese).

toki in Japanese has Different Meanings for Verbs in Present or Past Tense

With verbs, it helps to keep in mind that non-past form indicates an action that happens "all
the time" or is "not yet completed". The past form is used when the action is "over and
finished".

Let's check out some examples...

1. 日本へ行く とき、カメラを買いました。
nihon e iku toki, kamera wo kaimashita

Meaning: I bought a camera when I was on my way to Japan.

(before reaching Japan, on the way there)
2. 日本へ行った とき、カメラを買いました。
nihon e itta toki, kamera wo kaimashita

Meaning: I bought a camera when I went to Japan.

(arrived in Japan and bought a camera there)

In example 1 above, 行く (iku) indicates that the action had not been completed. The speaker
bought a camera somewhere on his/her way to Japan. (the camera could be bought in his/her
own country).

In example 2 above, 行った (itta) indicates that the action had been completed and the speaker
bought a camera after arriving in Japan.

More Examples for toki in Japanese with Verbs

 寝る とき、「おやすみなさい」と言います。
neru toki, "oyasuminasai" to iimasu

Meaning: I say "Good Night" before going to bed.

In this case you cannot use 寝たとき (neta toki) because it will mean that you are saying "Good
Night" while you are sleeping.

 部屋に入る とき、「失礼します」と言います。
heya ni hairu toki, "shitsurei shimasu" to iimasu

Meaning: I say "Excuse Me" before entering the room.

In this case you cannot use 部屋に入ったとき (heya ni haitta toki) because it will mean that you
are saying "Excuse Me" after you have entered the room. It's considered rude if you do this to
your boss.

 今朝友達に会った とき、「おはようございます」と言いました。
kesa tomodachi ni atta toki, "ohayou gozaimasu" to iimashita

Meaning: I said "Good Morning" when I met my friend this morning.

In this case you cannot use 今朝友達に会うとき (kesa tomodachi ni au toki) because it will mean
that you were saying "Good Morning" before you met your friend. You would be talking to no
one if you did that.

Common Mistake While Using toki in Japanese

There is one common mistake that many people make when they using toki in Japanese. とき
(toki) is a time expression. Therefore if there is already a time expression in a sentence, you
don't add in とき after that time expression.

For example, 朝 (asa - morning) is already a time expression, so you cannot combine it with と
き and say 朝のとき (asa no toki). If you use a term that is not a time expression like 眠い
(nemui - sleepy), then you can combine it with とき and say 眠いとき (nemui toki). For
example...

1. 朝の とき、コーヒーを飲みます。 X
asa no toki, ko-hi- wo nomimasu X

朝コーヒーを飲みます。 O
asa ko-hi- wo nomimasu O

Meaning: I drink coffee in the morning.

2. 眠い とき、コーヒーを飲みます。 O
nemui toki, ko-hi- wo nomimasu O

Meaning: I drink coffee when I am sleepy.

Using Verb て-form いる with toki in Japanese

You can also use Verb て-form いるとき to express the time in the middle of action, while you
are doing something. For example, ご飯を食べているとき (gohan wo tabete iru toki) means in
the midst of eating.

 ご飯を食べる とき
gohan wo taberu toki
Meaning: before eating meal
 ご飯を食べている とき
gohan wo tabete iru toki
Meaning: in the midst of eating meal
 ご飯を食べた とき
gohan wo tabeta toki
Meaning: finished eating meal

Let's use some examples to show this...

 ご飯を食べている とき、山田さんがうちへ来ました。
gohan wo tabete iru toki, yamada san ga uchi e kimashita

Meaning: While I was eating, Mr Yamada came to my house.

 ゆうべ寝ている とき、地震がありました。
yuube nete iru toki, jishin ga arimashita

Meaning: While I was sleeping last night, there was an earthquake.

Some Grammars using Japanese Verb

te-form -
Intermediate Lessons: 12
In this lesson, you will learn some new grammars making use of Japanese verb te-form. You
have already learned how to change verbs from dictionary-form to te-form in the basic lessons
and how te-form is used in some grammars.

Japanese Verb (て-form) みます

This first grammar is about using te-form to express the action you are trying to do.

The sentence pattern of this new grammar is very simple...

 Verb (て-form) みます
Verb (te-form) mimasu

It emphasizes that the action denoted by the verb is a trial. Let's use some examples so that
you can see how to use it.

1. 私はいつもシャツを買う前に着てみます。
watashi wa itsumo shatsu wo kau mae ni kite mimasu

Meaning: I always try out the shirt before I buy it.

2. 新しいペンを買う前に書いてみました。
atarashii pen wo kau mae ni kaite mimashita

Meaning: I tried out the new pen before I bought it.

3. もう一度考えてみます。
mou ichido kangaete mimasu

Meaning: I will (try to) think it over again.

4. この靴を履いてみてもいいですか。
kono kutsu wo haite mitemo ii desu ka

Meaning: May I try on this pair of shoes?

Note

For Verb (て-form) みます: I try, I will try (present tense or future tense)
For Verb (て-form) みました: I tried (past tense)

Japanese Verb (て-form) みたいです

Another common use is to use the たい-form (tai-form) to express something you want to try.
The sentence pattern is...

Verb (て-form) みたいです

Verb (te-form) mitai desu

It is used for something you have not done before and you want to try to do it. For example...

1. 世界旅行をしてみたいです。
sekai ryokou wo shite mitai desu

Meaning: I would like to experience a world tour.

2. 富士山に登ってみたいです。
fujisan ni nobotte mitai desu
 Meaning: I would like to experience climbing Mount Fuji.
3. 宇宙から地球を見てみたいです。
uchuu kara chikyuu wo mite mitai desu

Meaning: I want to see the earth from the space (to know how it looks).

Verb1 (て-form) Verb2 and Verb1 (ない-form)で Verb2

In the next grammar Verb1 is an action or condition which accompanies the action denoted by
Verb2. Take note that the second Japanese verb (Verb2) is the main action in the sentence.

Let's look at the sentence patterns...

Verb1 (て-form) Verb2

Verb (te-form) Verb2

Verb1 (ない-form)で Verb2

Verb (nai-form)de Verb2

For example...

 眼鏡をかけて本を読みます。
megane wo kakete hon wo yomimasu

Meaning: I read book with my glasses on.

眼鏡をかけます (megane wo kakemasu) - to wear glasses. And with this condition remained (i.e.
with my glasses on), I read book (doing another action).

 眼鏡をかけないで本を読みます。
megane wo kakenaide hon wo yomimasu

Meaning: I read book without my glasses on.

眼鏡をかけない (megane wo kakenai) - not to wear glasses. And with this condition remained
(i.e. without my glasses on), I read book (doing another action).

Look at the above two examples, whether the glasses is put on or not when the action 読みます
takes place is stated. Verb1 and Verb2 are actions done by the same person.

More Examples

1. ネクタイをして会社へ行きます。
nekutai wo shite kaisha e ikimasu
 Meaning: I go to the office with my tie on.
2. ネクタイをしないで会社へ行きます。
nekutai wo shinaide kaisha e ikimasu

Meaning: I go to the office without my tie on.

3. 電気を消して寝ます。
denki wo keshite nemasu

Meaning: I go to bed with the light off.

4. 電気を消さないで寝ます。
denki wo kesanaide nemasu

Meaning: I go to bed without the light off.

5. 砂糖を入れてコーヒーを飲みます。
satou wo irete ko-hi- wo nomimasu

Meaning: I drink the coffee with sugar.

6. 砂糖を入れないでコーヒーを飲みます。
satou wo irenaide ko-hi- wo nomimasu

Meaning: I drink the coffee without sugar.

What is the Difference Between This Pattern and ～ながら (nagara)?

Let's use the 眼鏡 (megane) example to show the difference...

1. 眼鏡をかけて本を読みます。
megane wo kakete hon wo yomimasu
2. 眼鏡をかけながら本を読みます。
megane wo kakenagara hon wo yomimasu

In example 1, after putting on glasses, (with this state remained) you continue to read book.
Whereas in example 2, you are putting on glasses and reading book at the same time.

Another Sentence Pattern for Verb1 (ない-form)で Verb2

There is another meaning for the same sentence pattern Verb1 (ない-form)で Verb2. This
pattern is used when the speaker indicates a course of action taken out of two alternative
possibilities presented. This is different from the previous pattern where the speaker remains
under the condition of the first action and performs the second action. For example...

 来週の日曜日はどこも行かないで、うちでゆっくり休みます。
raishuu no nichi youbi wa dokomo ikanaide uchi de yukkuri yasumimasu
 Meaning: Next Sunday I won't go anywhere. I will rest at home instead.

In this example, the speaker chooses to do one of the two actions (go somewhere and rest at
home).

More Examples

1. バスに乗らないで駅まで自転車で行きます。
basu ni noranaide eki made jitensha de ikimasu

Meaning: I go to the station without taking the bus. I ride the bicycle instead.
2. ケーキは買わないで自分で作ります。
ke-ki wa kawanaide jibunde tsukurimasu

Meaning: I don't buy the cake. I will make it myself instead.