JLPT N2・N3・N5 Grammar – Difference between “〜とき”, “〜際” and “〜折”

Table of Contents

1. Difference between “〜とき”, “〜際さい” and “〜折おり“
2. 〜とき
3. 〜際さい
4. 〜折おり
5. Let’s Compare
6. Summary
7. Similer Articles
8. Comment

Q: 「〜とき」「〜際さい」「〜折おり」の違ちがいは何なんですか？

A: どれも「ある行為こういや状況じょうきょうが起おこるタイミング」を表あらわしますが、使つかう場面ばめんや硬かたさに違ちがいがあります。

～とき (JLPT N5)

[Meaning]
Indicating time or timing

[Rule]
[V] Verb dictionary form/た form/negative form + とき
[A] い adjective plain form + とき
[A] い adjective negative form + とき
[Na] な adjective + とき
[Na] な adjective negative form + とき
[N] Noun + の + とき
[N] Noun negative form + とき

[Examples]
出でかけるとき、必かならず鍵かぎをかけてください。
When you go out, be sure to lock the door.

寒さむいときは、このジャケットを着きたらいいですよ。
When it’s cold, you should wear this jacket.

暇ひまなときは気分きぶん転換てんかんに散歩さんぽします。
When you are free, take a walk for a change of pace.

“とき” is an expression that indicates a specific event or period of time. It is used widely, from everyday conversation to written language.

[Examples]
本ほんを読よむとき、電気でんきを明あかるくします。
When I read a book, I turn on the light brightly.

日本にほんへ行いったとき、お土産みやげをたくさん買かいました。
When I went to Japan, I bought many souvenirs.

子供こどものとき、父ちちによく叱しかられました。
When I was a child, I was often scolded by my father.

～際さい (に) (JLPT N3)

[Meaning]
Refers to specific situations or opportunities, used formally to mean “when”

[Rule]
[V] Verb dictionary form / past form + 際さい (に)
[N] Noun + の + 際さい (に)

[Examples]
ご利用りようの際さいには、係員かかりいんにお声こえがけください。
When you use this service, please speak to a staff member.

契約けいやくを結むすぶ際さいに、必かならずご確認かくにんください。
When making a contract, please be sure to check it carefully.

面接めんせつの際さいの服装ふくそうには十分じゅうぶん気きをつけてください。
Please pay close attention to your clothing when attending an interview.

“際さい” refers to a specific situation or occasion. It is more formal than “とき” and is often used in formal contexts such as manuals, regulations, or announcements. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation.

[Examples]
電車でんしゃを降おりる際さいに、忘れ物わす　ものがないかご確認かくにんください。
When getting off the train, please check that you have not left anything behind.
⇒ If it is a station staff announcement, using “際さい” gives a more polite and formal impression.

トラブルを防ふせぐために、契約けいやくの際さいにはよく内容ないようを確認かくにんしてからサインしてください。
To prevent trouble, please make sure to check the contents carefully before signing when making a contract.

海外かいがい旅行りょこうの際さいのパスポートの取とり扱あつかいには注意ちゅういしてください。
Please be careful with the handling of your passport when traveling abroad.

〜折おり (に) (JLPT N2)

[Meaning]
Indicates doing something on a specific occasion.

[Rules]
[V] Verb dictionary form / た form + 折おり（に）
[N] Noun + の + 折おり（に）

[Examples]
日本にほんへ来こられる折おりには、ぜひご連絡れんらくください。
When you come to Japan, please be sure to contact me.

今度こんどお目めにかかった折おりにお話はなしいたします。
I will talk with you on the occasion of our next meeting.

送別そうべつ会かいの折おりに、一言ひとことご挨拶あいさつを申もうし上あげます。
I would like to offer a few words of greeting at the farewell party.

“折おり” expresses the idea of doing something on a specific occasion. Among the three expressions (“とき,” “際さい,” and “折おり“), it is the most formal and carries a humble tone. In addition, “折おりに” implies “that is a good opportunity,” so it is rarely followed by negative content. It is mainly used in letters, greetings, and other formal situations.

[Examples]
日本にほんへお越こしの折おりに、ぜひ一いち度どお目めにかかりたいと思おもいます。
When you come to Japan, I would very much like to have the opportunity to meet you.

出張しゅっちょうの折おりに、御社おんしゃの工場こうじょうを見学けんがくさせていただきました。
On the occasion of my business trip, I had the privilege of visiting your company’s factory.

新年しんねんのご挨拶あいさつの折おりに、皆みな様さまにお礼れいを申もうし上あげます。
On the occasion of the New Year’s greetings, I would like to express my gratitude to all of you.

Let’s Compare

“とき,” “際さい,” and “折おり” all indicate “a certain occasion,” but they differ slightly in nuance and in the contexts where they are used. Let’s compare them with the following examples.

[Examples]
①日本にほんへいらっしゃるときは、ご連絡れんらくください。
②日本にほんへいらっしゃる際さいには、ご連絡れんらくください。
③日本にほんへいらっしゃる折おりには、ご連絡れんらくください。

① “とき” … The most neutral expression, easy to use in everyday situations.
② “際さい” … Formal with a stiff tone, often used in business documents or written announcements.
③ “折おり” … Even more polite than “際さい,” with a softer and more humble nuance.

Now, consider the following examples:

[Examples]
①こちらの書類しょるいを提出ていしゅつする際さいに、身分みぶん証明しょうめい書しょをご持参じさんください。
②こちらの書類しょるいを提出ていしゅつする折おりに、身分みぶん証明しょうめい書しょをご持参じさんください。

The correct choice is ①.
”際さいに” is a formal and somewhat rigid expression, and it is often used when giving instructions or drawing attention to something.
On the other hand, in Example 1 above, “日本にほんへいらっしゃる折おりには、ご連絡れんらくください,” the word “ください” functions not as a command but as a polite request.

Summary

[〜とき]

• Expresses a specific event or period of time. It is the most common and neutral expression.
• Used widely, from everyday conversation to written language.

[〜際さい（に）]

• Expresses a specific situation or occasion.
• More formal than “とき,” and often used in manuals, rules, and announcements in formal contexts.
• Not often used for casual, everyday matters.

[〜折おり（に）]

• Expresses doing something on a specific occasion.
• The most formal of the three, carrying a humble nuance.
• It implies “that is a good opportunity,” so it is rarely followed by negative expressions.

Similer Articles

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