Upon, when: 〜際（に）
Verb (dictionary / た) + 際（に）/ Noun + の + 際（に）
Verb (dictionary / た) / Noun + の + 際（に）: upon, at the time of. The formal equivalent of とき, typical of announcements and writing (お降りの際, ご利用の際).
In short
〜際（に） means “upon, at the time of, when”. It's the formal equivalent of 〜とき, kept for announcements, written instructions and polite language: お降りの際は、足元にご注意ください. It isn't used in casual conversation.
- お降りの際は、足元にご注意ください。おおりのさいは、あしもとにごちゅういください。When alighting, please mind your step.
- 京都にお越しの際は、ぜひお寄りください。きょうとにおこしのさいは、ぜひおよりください。If you're ever in Kyoto, please do drop in.
- 会議室を使う際は、受付で名前を書いてください。かいぎしつをつかうさいは、うけつけでなまえをかいてください。When using the meeting room, please sign in at reception.
- 先日、京都を訪れた際に、古いお茶屋さんに行きました。せんじつ、きょうとをおとずれたさいに、ふるいおちゃやさんにいきました。The other day, when I visited Kyoto, I went to an old teahouse.
The basics
際 (さい) means “occasion, moment”. 〜際に means the same as 〜ときに, but in a formal register: it's the language of train announcements, temple signs, business emails and instruction manuals — like English “upon”, “when -ing”, “at the time of”.
You'll hear it as soon as you arrive in Kyoto: on the subway, at every station, a voice reminds you お降りの際は、足元にご注意ください.
When alighting, please mind your step.
- noun
- verb
- お寺に入る際は、靴を脱いでください。おてらにはいるさいは、くつをぬいでください。When entering the temple, please remove your shoes.
- お帰りの際は、忘れ物にご注意ください。おかえりのさいは、わすれものにごちゅういください。When leaving, please make sure you have all your belongings.
How to form it
際 is a noun. It follows a verb in the dictionary form (when doing) or the た-form (when, once done), or a noun + の. With an honorific verb, you often form お + stem + の際 or ご + noun + の際.
| Construction | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| V (dictionary) + 際 | when doing | 出かける際に |
| V (た) + 際 | when (completed) | 京都を訪れた際に |
| Noun + の + 際 | at the time of | 会議の際に |
| お + stem + の際 | honorific | お降りの際、お越しの際 |
| ご + noun + の際 | honorific | ご利用の際、ご来店の際 |
- 会議の際に、新しい計画を説明します。かいぎのさいに、あたらしいけいかくをせつめいします。I'll explain the new plan at the meeting.
- ご来店の際は、予約番号をお知らせください。ごらいてんのさいは、よやくばんごうをおしらせください。When visiting the shop, please give us your booking number.
際, とき, 場合
際 and とき refer to a moment; 際 is just more formal. 場合 (previous point) presents a hypothetical case. To say “when I was little”, you say 子どものとき: 際 would be too stiff, and it isn't used for a long period.
| Form | Idea | Register |
|---|---|---|
| 〜とき | moment | everyday, all registers |
| 〜際 | specific moment, occasion | formal, written, announcements |
| 〜場合 | hypothetical case | neutral to formal, instructions |
- 暇なとき、よく本を読みます。ひまなとき、よくほんをよみます。When I have free time, I often read.
Common mistakes
- Using it among friends: “昨日うちに来た際…” sounds stilted; say 来たとき.
- Using it for a long period or a state: 子どものとき (when I was a child), not “子どもの際”.
- Mixing it up with 最中 (さいちゅう, “in the middle of”): 際 = at the moment of; 最中 = right in the middle of an ongoing action.
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 N3 point is on the Tōzai Line (Politics and law) of the Kyoto lines.