〜折に: 'On the Occasion Of' (Meaning + Examples)
Marking a fitting occasion
〜折に points to a specific moment or opportunity, often one that's convenient or well-timed for the listener. It's especially common in polite requests and invitations, softening them by framing the action as happening "whenever the occasion arises" rather than demanding an exact time.
やったんが東京にお越しの折に、ぜひうちにお立ち寄りください。
やったんが とうきょうに おこしの おりに、ぜひ うちに おたちよりください。
Whenever you happen to come to Tokyo, please do stop by our place.
お越しの折に softens the invitation compared to a bare 時に.
モチは帰国の折に、恩師を訪ねた。
モチは きこくの おりに、おんしを たずねた。
On the occasion of returning to his home country, Mochi visited his former teacher.
ご都合の良い折に、ご連絡いただけますでしょうか。
ごつごうの よい おりに、ごれんらく いただけますでしょうか。
Could you contact us at a time convenient for you?
Attaching to nouns and verbs
〜折に follows a noun + の, or a verb in plain/attributive form (often the honorable お＋stem construction in polite contexts).
| Attaches to | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | 名詞＋の折に | 帰国の折に (on returning home) |
| Honorific verb stem | お＋stem＋の折に | お越しの折に (when you come) |
| Plain verb | 動詞辞書形＋折に | 訪れた折に (when [I] visited) |
次にお会いする折に、詳しくお話しします。
つぎに おあいする おりに、くわしく おはなしします。
I'll go into detail the next time we meet.
折に can also pair with 次に for 'next time we get the chance.'
Don't confuse with 際に or とき
〜際に (さいに) is also formal but is more neutral and can describe any occasion, including negative or emergency ones (地震の際に — "in the event of an earthquake"). 〜折に carries a gentler, more considerate nuance and is reserved for positive or courteous contexts — it would sound odd in 地震の折に. Plain とき is the everyday, unmarked version of both.
The short version
- 〜折に = "on the occasion of / when [an opportunity arises]" — a formal, polite way to mark timing.
- Attaches to: Noun＋の折に; お＋verb stem＋の折に; plain verb＋折に.
- Nuance/register: formal, courteous; common in letters, invitations, and business speech.
- Don't confuse with: 際に (neutral, works for emergencies too) and plain とき (everyday, unmarked).
Practice it
Choose 折に when the sentence politely marks a fitting occasion or opportunity.
＿＿＿に入れるのに最もよいものを選びなさい。
東京にお越し＿＿＿、ぜひお立ち寄りください。
Where 〜折に fits
Shaky on this? Get these solid first
- 〜において · N2 — 〜において is the formal, written equivalent of で/に, marking a location, time, or field of activity: 現代において ('in modern times'). Learn the pattern plus its adnominal form における.
More N1 grammar to explore
Keep going with related patterns at the same level:
- およそ — およそ is an adverb meaning 'approximately,' 'roughly,' or 'generally' — およそ170フィート ('about 170 feet'). Before a number it rounds a figure; before a noun or in a negative sentence it can mean 'the general gist' or 'not remotely.'
- 〜たりとも〜ない — 〜たりとも〜ない attaches to '一 + counter' to mean 'not even a single...' — 一瞬たりとも無駄にできない. Formal and emphatic, it denies even the smallest possible unit.
- 〜てならない — 〜てならない attaches to feeling verbs or adjectives to mean an emotion is uncontrollable — 気になってならない ('I just can't stop worrying'). Formal and literary, don't confuse it with the unrelated 〜てはならない ('must not').
- 〜ともなると — 〜ともなると means 'once (someone/something) reaches that level or status, of course...' — it draws an expected, natural conclusion from a notable status, role, or occasion. Common with jobs, ranks, and life stages.
- 〜はおろか — 〜はおろか means 'let alone X' — it names a basic, easy case (X) and pairs it with a negative predicate to say that if even X isn't possible, a harder case (Y) certainly isn't either, similar to English 'not even X, let alone Y.'
- 〜を踏まえて — 〜を踏まえて means 'based on X' or 'taking X into account' — it introduces prior facts, results, or experience as the grounded foundation for a decision or action that follows, common in reports and formal discussion.