JLPT N4 Vocabulary – Difference between “このとき・そのとき・あのとき”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “このとき・そのとき・あのとき”
2. When Referring to a Close Time or a Specific Scene
3. Referring to a Slightly Distant Time
4. Referring to a Past Time
5. Let’s Compare
6. Summary
7. Quiz
8. Similar Articles
9. Comment

Q: What is the difference between “そのとき” and “あのとき”?
Can you explain why “あのとき、ベルが鳴なりました” is incorrect?

A: The expressions “このとき” (this time), “そのとき” (that time), and “あのとき” (that time in the past) are used differently depending on temporal and psychological distance, as well as context.

・”このとき”: Refers to the present time or a moment just before from the speaker’s perspective.
・”そのとき”: Refers to a past time that both the speaker and listener share a common understanding of.
・”あのとき”: Refers to a past time that feels distant to both the speaker and the listener.

Therefore, in the sentence “あのとき、ベルが鳴なりました”, if the speaker and listener do not share a common recognition of that specific moment, the sentence may sound unnatural.

When Referring to a Close Time or a Specific Scene

[Key Points]
① Referring to a moment just before: Indicates a time close to the speaker, referring to a moment immediately before a certain point in time.
② Describing an event within a story: Used to refer to a specific moment when an event occurs within the flow of a conversation.
③ Emphasizing a past moment: Used when highlighting a specific time in a past event.

[Examples]
テレビで有名ゆうめいな起業きぎょう家かを見みて、このとき私わたしも起業きぎょうしようと思おもいました。(①)
When I saw a famous entrepreneur on TV, at that moment, I thought, “I should start my own business too.”

子こどもが車くるまにひかれかけました。このとき、男おとこの人ひとが走はしって助たすけに行いきました。(②)
A child was about to be hit by a car. At that moment, a man ran over and saved them.

「わぁ、お父ちちさんが子こどものときの写真しゃしん？ このとき、何なん歳さいぐらい？」(③)
“Wow, is this a picture of you when you were a child, Dad? How old were you at that time?”

Just like in example ③, “このとき” is often used when emphasizing a specific moment in the past.

Referring to a Slightly Distant Time

“そのとき” is different from “このとき” as it refers to a slightly distant time from the speaker’s perspective, both temporally and psychologically.

[Key Points]
① Refers to a time mentioned in the conversation or a time the listener is referring to.
② Refers to a specific moment when an event occurs (the exact timing of the event).
③ Represents a time that is neither too far nor too close for the speaker.

[Examples]
地震じしんが来きたそのとき、すぐに机つくえの下したに逃にげました。(①)
When the earthquake struck, at that moment, I immediately took shelter under the desk.

A「昨日きのうのコンサートは大だい成功せいこうだったよ！ たくさん拍手はくしゅをもらったんだ。」(①)
B「そのときの気持きもちは最高さいこうだったでしょ？」
A: “Yesterday’s concert was a huge success! I received a lot of applause.”
B: “You must have felt amazing at that moment, right?”

もうこの試合しあいは負まけだろうと思おもいました。そのとき、選手せんしゅが見事みごとなゴールを決きめました。(②)
I thought this match was already lost. At that moment, a player scored a spectacular goal.

駅えきに着ついたそのとき、ちょうど電車でんしゃが出発しゅっぱつしてしまいました。(③)
Just as I arrived at the station, at that moment, the train departed.

“そのとき” is used in the flow of a conversation to indicate a slightly earlier or slightly distant time.

Referring to a Past Time

“あのとき” differs from “このとき” and “そのとき” as it refers to a past time that feels distant to the speaker both temporally and psychologically.

[Key Points]
① Refers to a past time that feels distant to the speaker both in terms of time and emotion.
② Refers to a past time that both the speaker and listener share a common recognition of.

[Examples]
(子こどもの頃ころの話はなしをしながら）
あのときは、まだ山やまや川かわなど自然しぜんがたくさんあったよ。(①)
Back then, there were still plenty of mountains, rivers, and nature.

(過去かこの出来事できごとについて話はなしながら）(②)
A「ねえ、あのときのこと覚おぼえてる？」
B「あのとき？」
A「みんなで海うみに花火はなびを見みに行いったこと！」
B「あのときね！ あのときは楽たのしかったね！」
A: “Hey, do you remember that time?”
B: “That time?”
A: “When we all went to the beach to watch the fireworks!”
B: “Oh, that time! That time was so much fun!”

“あのとき” is used when looking back on a distant past event or when both the speaker and listener share a memory of a past event.

Let’s Compare

So, which is more appropriate: “そのとき、ベルが鳴なった” or “あのとき、ベルが鳴なった”?
In fact, both can be used depending on the speaker’s emotions and the context.

[Example①]
教室きょうしつへ入はいろうとしました。そのとき、ベルが鳴なりました。
　
I was about to enter the classroom. At that moment, the bell rang.
⇒ In this case, it refers to the immediate moment before entering the classroom, so “そのとき” is appropriate.

[Example②]
警察けいさつ：「事故じこがあった時間じかんは何なん時じぐらいか覚おぼえていませんか？」

女性じょせい：「はっきり覚おぼえていませんが…あ、確たしか、あのとき学校がっこうのベルが鳴なりました。」
　
Police: “Do you remember about what time the accident happened?”
Woman: “I don’t remember exactly… Oh, I think back then, the school bell rang.”
⇒ In this case, the woman is recalling a past memory that she does not remember clearly, so “あのとき” is more natural because it conveys both psychological and temporal distance.

Summary

[このとき]

• ① Refers to a time close to the speaker, often immediately before the moment being discussed.
• ② Used to describe an ongoing event within the flow of a conversation.
• ③ Used to emphasize a specific moment in a past event.

[そのとき]

• ① Refers to a time mentioned in the conversation or the time the listener is referring to.
• ② Refers to a specific moment in time.
• ③ Represents a time that is neither too far nor too close for the speaker.

[あのとき]

• ① Refers to a time that feels distant to the speaker, both temporally and psychologically.
• ② Indicates a past time that both the speaker and listener recognize as a shared memory.

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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