On the occasion of: 〜折（に）
N の / Verb + 折（に）／折には／折から
N の／Verb + 折（に）: “when, on the occasion of”, an elegant tone for letters and speeches, for a pleasant occasion. 折には = “should the occasion arise”; 折から = seasonal formula.
In short
折 (おり, “occasion, moment”) is an elegant way of saying “when, on the occasion of”. It's used in letters, polite emails and speeches, for pleasant or chosen occasions. 折から is used in the seasonal formulas of letters (寒さ厳しい折から).
- 京都に行った折に、昔の友人を訪ねた。きょうとにいったおりに、むかしのゆうじんをたずねた。When I was in Kyoto, I called on an old friend.
- お近くにお越しの折には、ぜひお立ち寄りください。おちかくにおこしのおりには、ぜひおたちよりください。If you're ever in the area, please do drop by.
- 寒さ厳しい折から、お体を大切になさってください。さむさきびしいおりから、おからだをたいせつになさってください。In this bitterly cold season, please take good care of yourself.
The basics
折 refers to a favourable moment, an occasion. 〜折に is “when, on the occasion of”, but with a touch of refinement that とき doesn't have. You use it for a meeting, a trip, a visit: moments you consider fitting or pleasant.
It's the vocabulary of letters, polished business emails and speeches. In everyday conversation, you'd rather say とき.
When I was in Kyoto, I called on an old friend.
- noun
- verb
- grammatical form
- 先日、名古屋に出張した折、みそかつを食べました。せんじつ、なごやにしゅっちょうしたおり、みそかつをたべました。The other day, on a business trip to Nagoya, I tried misokatsu.
How to form it
Noun + の or a verb (present or past) before 折. Follow it with に, には (“should the occasion arise”) or use it on its own.
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| N の折（に） | when, on the occasion of | ご来日の折に |
| Verb + 折（に） | when | 京都に行った折に |
| 〜折には | should the occasion arise | お越しの折には |
| 〜折から | in this season when (letters) | 寒さ厳しい折から |
| 〜折を見て | choosing the right moment | 折を見て話す |
- 次回お目にかかった折に、詳しくご説明いたします。じかいおめにかかったおりに、くわしくごせつめいいたします。I'll explain it in detail when we next meet.
- 折を見て、部長に相談してみます。おりをみて、ぶちょうにそうだんしてみます。I'll raise it with the section chief when the time is right.
折から: the seasonal formula
Japanese letters open and close with a reference to the season. 〜折から there means “at this time when…”, followed by a wish for the reader's health. It's a fixed formula, to be learnt as is.
- 寒さ厳しい折から、お体を大切になさってください。さむさきびしいおりから、おからだをたいせつになさってください。In this bitterly cold season, please take good care of yourself.
折, 際, とき
際（に）(N3) is used mainly for procedures and instructions (ご利用の際は, お申し込みの際に): an administrative tone. 折 evokes a human, pleasant occasion, with a warmer, more literary tone. とき is neutral and fits anywhere.
You avoid 折 for an unpleasant or trivial moment: you don't say “事故にあった折” or “歯を磨く折”.
| Construction | Tone | Typical example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜折（に） | elegant, warm, letters | お越しの折には |
| 〜際（に） | formal, administrative | ご利用の際は |
| 〜とき | neutral | 京都に行ったとき |
- ご利用の際は、カードをお持ちください。ごりようのさいは、かーどをおもちください。Please have your card with you when using the service. (際: instruction)
Common mistakes
- Reading it せつ: in this sense, 折 is read おり (せつ is as in 骨折, “fracture”).
- Using it for an unfortunate or trivial event: 折 evokes a pleasant or chosen occasion.
- Using it in conversation between friends: it's a word for letters and speeches.
7 exercises on this point
Particles to choose, sentences to put back in order, translations: marked straight away, then reviewed at the right time. This JLPT N2 point is on the Meitetsu Inuyama Line (History and traditions) of the Nagoya lines.