JLPT N5 Vocabulary – Difference between “とき” and “ころ”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “とき” and “ころ”
2. とき
3. ころ
4. Let’s Compare
5. Summary
6. Quiz
7. Similar Articles
8. Comment

Q: Can you explain how to differentiate the usage of “とき” and “ころ” ?

A: Both of these refer to a certain period of time, but there are some differences in their meanings and usage.

とき (JLPT N5)

[Rules]
[V] Verb plain form＋とき
[A] い adjective＋とき
[Na] な adjective＋とき
[N] Noun＋の＋とき

[Examples]
日本にほんでは家いえに入はいるときくつを脱ぬぎます。
In Japan, we take off our shoes when entering the house.

彼かれは忙いそがしいときは連絡れんらくをくれません。
He doesn’t contact me when he’s busy.

生活せいかつが大変たいへんなとき親おやが助たすけてくれました。
When life was tough, my parents helped me.

雨あめのときはたいてい家いえでゲームします。
When it rains, I usually stay home and play games.

Words that express specific or momentary events or periods, such as “weather,” use “とき.”
Be careful, as “とき” cannot be used with times of the day or days of the week.

[Examples]
〇 晴はれのときは近所きんじょを散歩さんぽします。
When it’s sunny, I take a walk around the neighborhood.

〇 12時じに犬いぬにえさをやります。
× 12時じのとき犬いぬにえさをやります。
I feed my dog at 12 o’clock.

〇 水曜すいよう日びに病院びょういんへ行いきました。
× 水曜すいよう日びのとき病院びょういんへ行いきました。
I went to the hospital on Wednesday.

ころ・ごろ (JLPT N5)

[Rules]
[N] Noun＋の＋ころ
[N] Noun indicating time＋ごろ

[Examples]
学生がくせいのころは毎日まいにち遅おそくまで遊あそんでいました。
When I was a student, I used to stay out late every day.

子供こどものころ、友達ともだちとよくこの公園こうえんに来きました。
When I was a child, I often came to this park with my friends.

明日あした10時じごろに会あいましょう。
Let’s meet around 10 o’clock tomorrow.

今日きょうは6時じごろに起おきました。
I woke up around 6 o’clock today.

When expressing time approximately, the reading changes to “ごろ.”
“とき” cannot be used when indicating specific times of the day.

[Examples]
〇 いつも5時じごろ起おきます。
× いつも5時じのとき起おきます。
I always wake up around 5 o’clock.

この浮世うきよ絵えは江戸えど時代じだい中期ちゅうき頃ごろのもののようです。
This ukiyo-e seems to be from around the mid-Edo period.

Let’s Compare

“とき” refers to specific, momentary, or clearly defined events or periods.
In contrast, “ころ・ごろ” indicates a general or broader span of time.

[Examples]
日本にほんでは家いえに入はいるときくつを脱ぬぎます。
In Japan, we take off our shoes when entering the house.
⇒ This is a specific event, “entering the house.”　

桜さくらが咲さくころ、またここで会あいましょう。
Let’s meet here again around the time when the cherry blossoms bloom.
⇒ Since we don’t know exactly when the cherry blossoms will bloom, it represents a broader period.

In some cases, both “とき” and “ころ” can be used, but their meanings slightly differ.

[Examples]　
子供こどものときアニメが大好だいすきでした。
子供こどものころアニメが大好だいすきでした。
When I was a child, I loved anime.
⇒ Using “とき” refers to a specific period in childhood, while “ころ” suggests a broader, less specific time.

Summary

[とき]

• It refers to specific and momentary points in time or clearly defined periods.
• It is used with a wide variety of words.

[ころ・ごろ]

• It refers to broader or general periods of time.
• The words used with “ころ/ごろ” are more limited in scope.

Quiz

Read the following sentence and choose the expression that fits the context from the options provided in the parentheses.

Click on the question to check the answer.

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