とき connects events or describes timing.
Use plain form before it. Tense before とき changes meaning:
- Present tense: Action not yet happened
- Past tense: Action already happened
na-adjective → + na
Noun → + no
さむいとき、コートをきます。
Samui toki, kooto o kimasu.
When it's cold, I wear a coat.
がくせいのとき、にほんへいきました。
Gakusei no toki, Nihon e ikimashita.
I went to Japan when I was a student.
Use with a verb in plain present form:
[Verb] + mae ni = before doing [verb]
Do not use past tense before まえに
べんきょうするまえに、カフェにいきます。
Benkyou suru mae ni, kafe ni ikimasu.
I go to a café before studying.
ねるまえに、ほんをよみます。
Neru mae ni, hon o yomimasu.
I read a book before going to sleep.
Use ta-form before あとで:
[Verb (ta-form)] + ato de = after doing [verb]
You can also use noun + のあとで
しゅくだいをしたあとで、テレビをみました。
Shukudai o shita ato de, terebi o mimashita.
I watched TV after doing homework.
クラスのあとで、かいものします。
Kurasu no ato de, kaimono shimasu.
I go shopping after class.
Use with the verb stem:
[Verb masu stem] + ながら + main action
- Less important action comes before ながら
おんがくをききながらべんきょうします。
Ongaku o kiki nagara benkyou shimasu.
I study while listening to music.
あるきながらスマホをみないでください。
Aruki nagara sumaho o minaide kudasai.
Please don’t look at your phone while walking.
AあいだにB
→ Action B happens during Action A.
- Use あいだ (without に) when simply saying "while" without emphasizing a second action.
- Use あいだに when the second action/event actually happens during the first.
- The action in the second clause is usually momentary or completed during the first.
せんせいが はなしているあいだに メモをとった。
Sensei ga hanashite iru aida ni memo o totta.
I took notes while the teacher was talking.
ねているあいだに じしんがありました。
Nete iru aida ni jishin ga arimashita.
There was an earthquake while I was sleeping.
ともだちが いぬのさんぽをしているあいだに ぼくはちゅうしゃじょうをさがした。
Tomodachi ga inu no sanpo o shite iru aida ni boku wa chuushajou o sagashita.
While my friend was walking the dog, I looked for a parking lot.
ごろ is used to indicate approximate time, such as “around 5 o’clock” or “about noon.” It attaches directly to time expressions (especially clock time).
- Usually used with hours (like 3じごろ), sometimes days (にちようびごろ).
- Don’t use with durations (like 3 hours) — that’s ぐらい.
ごご5じごろに いえに かえります。
Gogo go-ji goro ni ie ni kaerimasu.
I’ll go home at around 5 PM.
かようびごろテストが あります。
Kayoubi goro tesuto ga arimasu.
There’s a test around Tuesday.
ひるごろに ひるごはんを たべました。
Hiru goro ni hirugohan o tabemashita.
I ate lunch at about noon.
ぐらい (or its variant くらい) is used to express an approximate quantity, degree, or duration — like “about,” “approximately,” or “around.”
Used with:
- Time durations: 一時間ぐらい (about one hour)
- Amounts: 1000円ぐらい (about 1000 yen)
- Counts: 5人ぐらい (about five people)
- ぐらい and くらい are interchangeable, though ぐらい is more common in standard use.
- Don’t confuse with ごろ, which is used for clock time.
一時間ぐらい まちました。
Ichijikan gurai machimashita.
I waited for about an hour.
1000円ぐらい かかります。
Sen-en gurai kakarimasu.
It costs about 1000 yen.
10人ぐらいが来ました。
Juunin gurai ga kimashita.
About ten people came.
ふだん (普段) means “usually”, “normally”, or “in everyday situations.”
It is an adverb, so it is commonly used to describe something that happens regularly in daily life.
It often appears with the present tense.
- ふだん describes general habits, not something happening right now.
- It is similar to いつも (always) but less strong.
ふだん は コーヒー を のみます。
Fudan wa koohii o nomimasu.
I usually drink coffee.
わたし は ふだん 日本語 を べんきょう します。
Watashi wa fudan nihongo o benkyou shimasu.
I usually study Japanese.
ふだん は ６時 に おきます。
Fudan wa rokuji ni okimasu.
I usually wake up at 6.