[When ~]
Connection:
- Verb plain + とき: 行くとき (when going), 行ったとき (when went)
- i-Adj + とき: 寒いとき (when it's cold)
- na-Adj + なとき: 暇なとき (when free)
- Noun + のとき: 子供のとき (when I was a child)
Tense before とき matters:
Non-past (dictionary form):
- 行くとき = when going / before going
- 食べるとき = when eating / before eating
Past (た-form):
- 行ったとき = when (I) went / after going
- 食べたとき = when (I) ate / after eating
とき vs たら:
- とき = specific time/situation when something happens
- たら = conditional "if/when" with more focus on result
Examples:
- 日本に行くとき、カメラを持っていきます (When I go to Japan, I'll take a camera)
- 日本に行ったとき、富士山を見ました (When I went to Japan, I saw Mt. Fuji)
- 暇なとき、映画を見ます (When I'm free, I watch movies)