JLPT N5 Vocabulary – The difference between “とき” and “ころ”
Table of Contents
1. The 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. Comments
Q: Can you explain how to use “とき” and “ころ” differently?
A: Both “とき” and “ころ” are used to talk about time or periods of time. However, “とき” refers to “that time” or “that situation,” while “ころ” refers to “a certain period” or “around that time.” Let’s look at some example sentences to see the difference.
とき (JLPT N5)
[Meaning]
Expresses a certain time, period, or situation
[Rules]
[V] Verb in plain form + とき
[A] い adjective + とき
[Na] な adjective + とき
[N] Noun + の + とき
[Examples]
日本では家に入るとき、くつを脱ぎます。
In Japan, we take off our shoes when entering the house.
彼は忙しいときは連絡をくれません。
He doesn’t contact me when he’s busy.
生活が大変なとき、親が助けてくれました。
When life was difficult, my parents helped me.
雨のときは、たいてい家でゲームします。
When it rains, I usually stay home and play games.
“とき” expresses the time when an action takes place or when someone or something is in a certain state or situation.
It is not limited to short moments. It can also be used for longer periods, as in “学生のとき” and “子供のとき.”
[Examples]
学生のとき、京都に住んでいました。
When I was a student, I lived in Kyoto.
体調が悪いときは、無理をしないでください。
When you are not feeling well, please don’t push yourself.
Also, when simply stating a specific time or day of the week, “に” is normally used instead of “とき.”
[Examples]
〇 12時に犬にえさをやります。
× 12時のとき犬にえさをやります。
I feed my dog at 12 o’clock.
〇 水曜日に病院へ行きました。
× 水曜日のとき病院へ行きました。
I went to the hospital on Wednesday.
“とき” is not used simply to specify a time such as “at what time” or “on what day.” It is commonly used to express the action or situation at that time, as in “〜するとき” or “〜だったとき.”
ころ・ごろ (JLPT N5)
[Meaning]
A certain period of time / approximately that time
[Rules]
[V] Verb in plain form + ころ
[N] Noun + の + ころ
[N] Time, date, etc. + ごろ
[Examples]
学生のころは、毎日遅くまで遊んでいました。
When I was a student, I used to stay out late every day.
子供のころ、友達とよくこの公園に来ました。
When I was a child, I often came to this park with my friends.
明日10時ごろに会いましょう。
Let’s meet around 10 o’clock tomorrow.
今日は6時ごろに起きました。
I woke up around 6 o’clock today.
“ころ” is used to refer to the period when an event takes place or to a certain period in someone’s life.
On the other hand, “ごろ” is generally used after a specific time or date to express an approximate time, meaning “around ~.”
[Examples]
〇 いつも5時ごろ起きます。
× いつも5時のとき起きます。
I always wake up around 5 o’clock.
この浮世絵は江戸時代中期頃のもののようです。
This ukiyo-e seems to be from around the middle of the Edo period.
To learn the difference between
“くらい” and “ころ,” check out this article!
Let’s Compare
Both “とき” and “ころ” are used to talk about time, but they focus on different aspects.
[Examples]
日本では家に入るとき、くつを脱ぎます。
In Japan, we take off our shoes when entering the house.
⇒ This refers to the timing of the action of entering the house.
桜が咲くころ、またここで会いましょう。
Let’s meet here again around the time the cherry blossoms bloom.
⇒ This refers to the general period when the cherry blossoms bloom, rather than a specific date.
What is the difference between “子供のとき” and “子供のころ”?
In some cases, both can be used, as in the following examples.
[Examples]
子供のとき、アニメが大好きでした。
子供のころ、アニメが大好きでした。
When I was a child, I loved anime.
Both sentences are natural, but there is a slight difference in nuance.
“子供のとき” is a general expression referring to the time or state of being a child.
“子供のころ” gives the sense of a broader period of time during childhood.
For this reason, “子供のころ” is also commonly used when talking about past experiences or memories from childhood.
Summary
[とき]
- Expresses a certain time, period, or situation.
- Can be used in a wide range of expressions, such as “〜するとき,” “忙しいとき,” and “学生のとき.”
- It is often used to describe the timing of an action or the situation at that time.
[ころ・ごろ]
- “ころ” refers to the period when an event occurs or a certain period in someone’s life.
- “ごろ” is used with times and dates to mean “around that time.”
- It is used in expressions such as “子供のころ,” “桜が咲くころ,” and “5時ごろ.”
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.
A. ごろ
会議は10時ごろから始まります。
The meeting will start around 10 o’clock.
*“ごろ” is correct because “10 o’clock” is a specific time, and the sentence means approximately that time.
A. どちらでもいい
若いときはよく旅行しました。
若いころはよく旅行しました。
I often traveled when I was young.
*“若いとき” refers to the time or state of being young. “若いころ” views that period as a broader span of time.
A. とき
台風のときは電車がよく止まる。
Trains often stop during typhoons.
*“とき” is natural here because the sentence refers to the situation or timing when a typhoon is occurring.
A. ころ
いつだったか覚えてないけど子供のころ母と大きな遊園地に行きました。
I don’t remember exactly when, but I went to a big amusement park with my mother when I was a child.
*“ころ” is natural here because the sentence refers not to a specific point in time, but to a memory from the broader period of childhood.
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