toki (時): Beginner’s Guide to Saying “When (Sentence 1), Sentence 2” in Japanese

level2 (N4)

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toki (時): Beginner’s Guide to Saying “When (Sentence 1), Sentence 2” in Japanese
Source: gokigen japanese official YouTube Channel

Introduction

Need to say “When I study, I listen to music” or “When I went to Japan, I skied”? Use the clause pattern (Sentence 1) + 時(とき), (Sentence 2).

The first clause (before 時) shows when the second happens. This guide teaches the form, the special tense rule, and how it differs from the “A と B” pattern.

1. Structure and Basic Meaning

The Japanese grammar pattern (Sentence) + 時とき is used to express “when” something happens or happened. It is often used with short form verbs, adjectives, or nouns to indicate the time or condition when an action or event takes place or took place.

時 connects two sentences and expresses the time when the state or action described in the main sentence takes place.

Example: 日本にほんに行いきます。ビザを取とります。= I’m going to Japan. I’m getting a visa.

PartFormRoleExample
Sentence 1short [plain] form of verb / adj. / noun + 時Time or condition日本にほんに行いく時とき
When I go to Japan
Sentence 2any tenseMain action / resultビザを取とります。
I will get a visa.

Core meaning: Sentence 1 + 時 sets the time / occasion for Sentence 2.

how to form 時 sentence

patternexample時 sentence
Verb見みる
見みた [past]		見みる時とき = when I see
見みた時とき = when I saw
い-Adjectiveたのしい
たのしかった [past]		たのしい時 = when it is fun
たのしかった時 = when it was fun
な-Adjectiveげんきな
げんきだった [past]		げんきな時 = when I am healthy
げんきだった時 = when I was healthy
Noun学生がくせい
学生だった [past]		学生の時 = when I was a student
学生だった時 = when I was a student
gokigen penguin
gokigen penguin
  • な-Adjective takes な before 時.
  • Nouns take の before 時.

Verb tense before 時: present form vs. past form

With verbs, the tense before 時 changes depending on whether the action in Sentence 1 is completed or not at the time of Sentence 2.

  • Use V-る 時 if Sentence 1 is not completed yet at the time of Sentence 2.
  • Use V-た 時 if Sentence 1 is already completed at the time of Sentence 2.
ExampleNote
日本にほんに行いく時とき、ビザを取とります。
I will get a visa when I go to Japan.		At the time of getting the visa, the trip has not happened yet.
日本にほんに行いく時とき、新あたらしいスーツケースを買かいました。
When I went to Japan, I bought a new suitcase.		At the time of buying the suitcase, the trip has not happened yet. So the suitcase is something I bought before the trip.
日本にほんに行いった時とき、新あたらしいスーツケースを買かいました。
When I went to Japan, I bought a new suitcase.		At the time of buying the suitcase, the trip has happened already. So the suitcase is something I bought in Japan.
日本にほんに行いった時とき、すしを食たべたいです。
When I go to Japan, I want to eat sushi.		At the time of eating sushi, the trip has happened already. This sentence means:
1. (Someday) I will go to Japan
2. Then, I will eat sushi

2. The Tense in Sentence 1 — Key Rule

教室（きょうしつ）, classroom
JapaeseEnglish
教室きょうしつを出でるとき、電気でんきを消けします。When I leave the classroom, I turn off the light.
教室を出るとき、電気を消しました。When I left the classroom, I turned off the light.

The tense of Sentence 1 depends on the relative timing between Sentence 1 and Sentence 2.

If the content of Sentence 1 is present or future (i.e. has not yet occurred) at the time the content of Sentence 2 occurs, Sentence 1 takes present tense. It does not depend on the tense of the verb in Sentence 2 (e.g. 消します / 消しました).

A timeline diagram showing two actions: “教室を出る” (leave the classroom) and “電気を消す” (turn off the light). The image illustrates that even though both actions are in the past, the verb before とき takes the present tense because it hadn’t occurred yet at the time of the second action.
Japanese Time Logic: “とき” Can Take Present Tense Even for Past Events
In Japanese, the verb before とき stays in the present tense if that action hasn’t occurred yet at the time of the second action—even if both happened in the past.

Therefore, even if the two events both happened in the past, Sentence 1 may take the present tense! This is one of the big differences between English and Japanese.

3. Example Sentences

日本にほんに行いく時とき、ビザを取とります。
When I go to Japan, I’ll get a visa.

気分きぶんが悪わるい時とき、病院びょういんに行いきます。
When I don’t feel well, I go to the hospital.

友ともだちが来くる時とき、お菓子かしを買かいます。
When a friend comes over, I buy snacks.

渋谷しぶやに行いった時とき、有名人ゆうめいじんに会あいました。
When I went to Shibuya, I met a celebrity.

暇ひまな時とき、絵えを描かきます。
When I’m free, I draw pictures.

学生がくせいの時とき、夏なつになると海うみへ行いきました。
When I was a student, I would go to the sea whenever summer came.

4. Practice Drill

Translation

Convert each cue into a 「Sentence 1 時、Sentence 2」 sentence. Use the short form rule!

CueExample answer
leave the classroom / turn off lights教室きょうしつを出でる時とき、電気でんきを消けします。
feel sleepy / drink coffee眠ねむい時とき、コーヒーを飲のみます。
tired / go to a hot spring疲つかれた時とき、温泉おんせんに行いきます。
sad / call a friend悲かなしい時とき、友ともだちに電話でんわします。

Choose V-る時 or V-た時

Choose the correct form: V-る時 or V-た時.

QuestionAnswerNote
風邪かぜを（ひく / ひいた）時とき、薬くすりを飲のみます。
When I have a cold, I take medicine.		ひいたYou take medicine after catching a cold.
（寝ねる / 寝ねた）時とき、「おやすみなさい」と言いいます。
I say “good night” when I go to sleep.		寝るYou say it before going to sleep.
誰だれかの家いえに（入はいる / 入はいった）時とき、「おじゃまします」と言いいます。
When entering someone’s home, I say, “Excuse me for intruding.”		入るYou say it as you enter.
プレゼントを（もらう / もらった）時とき、うれしかったです。
I was happy when I received the gift.		もらったYou felt happy after receiving it.
日本にほんに（行いく / 行いった）時とき、旅館りょかんに泊とまりました。
When I went to Japan, I stayed at a ryokan.		行ったYou stayed at the ryokan after arriving.

5. Common Mistakes

❌ Wrong sentenceWhy it’s wrong✅ Correct form
友ともだちが来きました時とき、映画えいがを見みました。After short form, 時 never takes です/ました.友だちが来た時、映画を見ました。
When my friends came, we watched a movie.
暇ひまです時とき、寝ねます。な-adjectives need な, not です.暇な時、寝ます。
When I have free time, I take a nap.

6. Comparison with the “A と B” Pattern

PatternCore useForm in AExample
A 時、BSingle event: “When A happens, B happens.”Short-form verb/adj/noun (tense chosen by order)さむい時、コートをきます。
When it’s cold, I wear a coat.
A と、BConstant result / natural law / habitual outcomeAlways present short form春になると、桜が咲きます。
When spring comes, cherry blossoms bloom.

Keep と for whenever-type facts; use 時 for specific time references or one-off events.

7. FAQ

Q
How do I really know when to use V-ru toki (present) vs. V-ta toki (past)?
A

It’s the most confusing part! Here’s the key: think about the main action (the second part of the sentence).

  • Use V-ru toki (present form) if the first action is about to happen or is happening at the same time as the main action. Example: 家いえを出でる時とき、鍵かぎを閉しめます。 (I lock the door as I am leaving the house).
  • Use V-ta toki (past form) if the first action is a completed experience that happened before the main action. Example: 日本にほんに行いった時とき、お寿司すしを食たべました。 (My trip to Japan was a past event. During that event, I ate sushi).
Q
What is the difference between 日本に行く時 and 日本に行った時?
A

This is a classic example that perfectly illustrates the rule.

  • 日本に行く時、お土産を買います。 (Nihon ni iku toki, omiyage o kaimasu.) This means “When I go to Japan, I will buy souvenirs.” The buying happens before or in preparation for the trip. The “going” is not yet a completed action.
  • 日本に行った時、お土産を買いました。 (Nihon ni itta toki, omiyage o kaimashita.) This means “When I went to Japan, I bought souvenirs.” The buying happened after arriving in Japan. The trip was already underway; it was a completed action.
Q
How is toki different from tara and to for expressing “when”?
A
  • toki (時): Focuses on the time or occasion. It’s the most neutral way to set a temporal background for an action.
  • to (と): Expresses a natural consequence or an automatic result. If A happens, B always happens. Think of scientific facts or vending machines. Example: 春はるになると、暖あたたかくなる。 (When spring comes, it gets warm.)
  • tara (たら): Focuses on the completion of the first action as a condition for the second. It has a stronger “if/after A is done, then B” feeling. Example: 仕事しごとが終おわったら、電話でんわします。 (After my work is finished, I’ll call you.)
Q
How does the tense rule work for nouns and adjectives like 学生 (student) or 暇 (free)?
A

With nouns and adjectives, the idea is a little simpler than with verbs. They do not usually show the same “before vs. after” contrast as V-ru 時 / V-ta 時. Instead, they describe the state or situation at that time.

  • [Past] 暇ひまな時とき、図書館としょかんで勉強べんきょうしました。
    When I had free time, I studied at the library. [Past Habit]
  • [Present] 暇ひまな時とき、図書館としょかんで勉強べんきょうします。
    When I have free time, I study at the library. [Present Habit]

Conclusion

Now you can:

  • ✅ Attach 時 to a short-form verb, adjective, or noun to say “when …, ….”
  • ✅ Pick present vs. past in Sentence 1 based on relative timing.
  • ✅ Avoid mix-ups with the constant-result 「A と、B」 pattern.

Write three real-life examples describing what you do when certain situations arise—your Japanese timelines will sound natural and precise!

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