Today’s topic:
The trap of “~とき” in Japanese!
Quick quiz!
Which sentence is correct in a Japanese house?
① 家に入ったとき くつをぬぎます
(ie ni haitta toki kutsu o nugimasu)
② 家に入るとき くつをぬぎます
(ie ni hairu toki kutsu o nugimasu)
↓
↓
↓
The correct answer is… ②!
So, what’s the difference?
Look at the picture.
①

②

This is the image Japanese people get.
So, in the sentence:
「家に入ったとき くつをぬぎます」
the order of actions becomes:
“enter the house” → “take off shoes”
That means you entered the house WITH your shoes on (gaaaan!)
Japanese people would be shocked!
So in Japan, please make sure to take off your shoes
WHEN entering the house:
「家に入るとき くつをぬぎます」ie ni hairu toki kutsu o nugimasu
Here are some more examples:
・たべるとき 「いただきます」と言います。
taberu toki "itadakimasu" to iimasu
: “itadakimasu” → eat
・たべたとき 「ごちそうさまでした」と言います。
tabeta toki "gochisou sama deshita" to iimasu
: eat → “gochisousama deshita”
・いえをでるとき まどをしめます。
ie o deru toki mado o shimemasu
: close the window → leave the house
・いえを でたとき かぎを しめます。
ie o deta toki kagi o shimemasu
: leave the house → lock the door
★ Now another quiz!
How do you say:
“I take off my clothes before sleeping”?
① ねたとき ふくをぬぎます neta toki fuku o nugimasu
② ねるとき ふくをぬぎます neru toki fuku o nugimasu
The correct answer is…
↓
↓
↓
② !
① sounds a little funny because it means:
“take off clothes AFTER sleeping”
In my lessons, I also explain the difference between:
「A mae ni B」 and
「A(dictionary form)toki B」
See you next time~! matane!
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