The Time Phrase 頃
時 is by far the most basic and utilized word for expressing “when,” but there also exists 頃. 頃 has three main usages, of which, its primary usage overlaps with 時.
i. 頃 may broadly refer to a particular time period while also encompassing before and after it, making it a vaguer version of 時.
ii. Also seen as 頃合い, it may refer to the most opportune time.
iii. In the phrase 年の頃, it may refer to approximate age.
For the purpose of this lesson, we will be focusing on the first meaning.
Orthography Notes:
①ころ, as well as its suffixal form ～ごろ, may be frequently seen spelled either in Hiragana or Kanji. Both are used interchangeably.
②～時 may also be spelled in Hiragana or Kanji, but in practice, its Hiragana spelling is far more common.
Grammatical Scenarios w/頃
Meaning-wise, the difference between 時 and 頃 is rather straightforward. 時 is, simply put, “time,” and the time frame is however it is described, whereas 頃 leaves room for interpretation as to the extent of the time frame in question.
To get to the bottom of how 頃 is used, we will first go over the kinds of sentence structures in which 頃 and 時 appear to see if there are any real grammatical differences, putting aside how 時 is still used more.
Scenario I: As Standalone Nouns
When a noun can stand alone, it will most likely fall under the category of 実質名詞, which in other words, is a noun which refers to an actual ‘thing/entity.’
In this scenario, 時 defaults to meaning “time.”
1. 時は金なり1。
Time is money.
頃, however, is often described as not being able to stand alone except in rare circumstances, all of which could be described as set phrases. Here in Ex. 2, 頃 is synonymous with 時代.
2. 頃は元禄十四年師走半ばの十四日・・・
It was the Genroku Period Year 14 in the middle of twelfth month (of the lunar calendar) on the 14th…
3. 頃（合い）を見計らって顔を出す。
To find the right time and make an appearance.
Scenario II: In Subordinate Clauses
Subordinate clauses (従属節) come in two broad kinds: 連用節 (continuative clause) and 連体節 (attributive clause). 連用節 utilize a conjunctive element to tie in with the main clause (主節), whereas 連体節 modify nouns, which themselves may either be components of the main clause or some other subordinate clause.
Key:［連体節］,【連用節】
4. [過去のパートナーと一緒にいた］頃を思い返した。
I thought back on when I was with my past partner.
5. [自分が亡くなった]時が心配です。
I’m worried about when I pass away.
6. 事件は【［日付が変わった］ころに】発生した。
The incident occurred right around when the date changed (to the next day).
7.【［停電が起こった］ときに】すぐにブレーカーを確認しましょう。
When your electricity goes out, immediately check your breaker.
Three observations can be made from these examples:
①The particle に functions as the conjunctive element which facilitates the information of the 連用節 flowing into the more important main clause.
②By definition, within all 連用節 that are created with ときに・ or ころに, there will be a 連体節, as the latter is simply a clause modifying a noun.
③When a 連体節 does happen to be a component of the main clause, the resultant noun phrase may hold any grammatical function possible of a noun – meaning other (case) particles may be used (ex. を・が).
Scenario III: In Subordinate Phrases
Parallel to this, 時 and 頃 may both appear inside continuative phrases (連用句) and attributive phrases (連体句). Rather than having a whole clause modify them, some other adnominal2 constituent may be used instead. Aside from this point, they function the same as their clause counterparts.
Key:［連体節］,【連用節】,〈連体句〉, ≪連用句≫,｛Predicate｝
8. ≪もしもの時に≫{備えましょう}。→ ≪≫ ＝連用句
Let’s prepare ourselves for the unexpected.
9.〈あの〉頃は{よかった}。→ 〈〉＝連体句
That time period was great.
In the context of とき vs. ころ, 連体句 are inherently found in any 連用句, as some modifier is still attached to them regardless of how the resulting phrase functions in the sentence. Once more, any modifier made with の is a 連体句.
10.〈私の〉彼は、≪＜大学生の＞頃に≫彼女が{いたいみたいです}。
My boyfriend seems to have had a girlfriend when he was a college student.
11. 旦那が、≪＜子供の＞ときに≫よく駄菓子を{食べていたそうです}。
I heard how my husband used to eat dagashi often when he was a child.
Just as is true about 連体節 (Ex. 5), 連体句 are present with とき and ころ when they are used for other grammatical functions, in which situations you will except other (case) particles3 present.
12. 毎回の放送が面白い反面、あの時を思い出したくない。
While each broadcast is still intriguing, I do not want to remind myself of back then.
13a. [大学院に入学した]ときが{一番楽しかった}。
13b. [大学院に入学した]ころが{一番楽しかった}。
The time I entered graduate school was (when) I was most happy.
If, though, no modifier is present with とき, a change in both meaning and syntactic function occurs, resulting in the adverb 時に4, meaning “sometimes/occasionally.” Note that this does not happen to 頃に, as a modifier must always accompany it.
14. ≪時には≫［魚が≪まったく≫釣れない］こともある。
Occasionally, you can’t catch any fish at all.
Ex. 14 also demonstrates how adverbial phrases are all by definition 連用句, but also note how the 連用句 modifying the main clause is not the closest adverbial phrase to it. This shows just how important clause boundaries are.
Scenario IV: Clauses/Phrases Intertwined
Because of how the particle の and the 連体形 of conjugatable parts of speech both help build larger nominal phrases, you will also find clauses and phrases intertwined in various ways:
Key:［連体節］,【連用節】,〈連体句〉, ≪連用句≫,｛Predicate｝
▽A 連体節 inside a 連体句, which is accomplished by having a dummy noun5 be the modified component for the 連体節 that is then made into a 連体句 via の, which then modifies the next noun. That following noun can even be とき・ころ, which can then be inside another 連体節 or 連体句 modifying yet another noun.
15. ＜＜［始めた］ばかりの＞頃の＞気持ちを{忘れるべきではありません}。
You should not forget the feelings you had when you first began.
▽A 連用節 may be inside a 連体節. This is possible because 連用節 are not entirely represented by non-deictic time nouns + に. In fact, all sorts of grammar points may constitute a 連用節, including but not excluded to clauses made with the て form, the citation particle と, etc.
16. 【【［【＜［高校生になった］ばかりの＞頃に】感じた］気持ちについて】話したいと】｛思う｝。
17.［【私が大学に行こうと】決めた］のは｛＜30歳の＞時だった｝。
I was thirty years old at the time when I decided I wanted to go to college.
▽Whether a 連体句 or 連体節 precedes them, とき and ころ themselves may constitute the predicate at the end of the sentence.
18.［眼が覚めた］のは｛＜翌る日の薄明の＞頃である｝。
When I had woken up, it was around twilight the following day.
From 走れメロス by 太宰治
19. ［＜この＞一揆が起こった］頃は、［≪全国的にも≫百姓一揆が高揚した］ときであった。
Around when this uprising occurred is when peasant uprisings surged across the nation.
Scenario V: With Particles
So far, we have seen no clear grammatical differences between とき and ころ aside from how they differ as standalone nouns. This leads us to the conclusion that we truly are dealing with a purely semantic (meaning) difference6 at hand. That being said, however, there is still one more avenue we have yet to explore: particles.
Putting aside other (case) particles which serve distinct grammatical functions, it may still be confusing when and when not to use に after とき and ころ in subordinate clauses. More broadly, the choice is not just between whether to use に or not, but between four options: に, は, には, and the infamous ∅.
With に・は・には・∅
The most common particles to follow とき and ころ when used in subordinate clauses are に, は, には, but most importantly no particle at all, which we will call the zero-particle and will be written as ∅, is arguably most common.
20. 子供の頃は、よく母親に叱られたものだ。
When I was a kid (but not necessarily now), I was often scolded by my mother.
21. 子供の頃∅、よく動物園に行ったものだ。
When I was a kid, I often went to the zoo.
22. 帰ったときには、すでに息を引き取っている状態でした。
By the time I had gotten home, (they) had already taken (their) last breath.
23. 自動車を運転していたとき∅、事故になりそうになった体験について教えてください。
Please tell (us) of experiences you have had in which you almost got into an accident when driving your vehicle.
From this distribution alone, we can see that とき and ころ are both non-deictic time expressions, which we have just finished learning about extensively. Of the conditions that make に less likely, the following are most relevant to us now:
ii. Topicalizing a non-deictic expression often results in に being dropped because the particle は heightens its adverbial nature.
iv. When the events of the main clause are given greater semantic weight in the sentence, に is often dropped. This is especially so when non-deictic expressions are in sentence-initial position and can be viewed as tacked-on information.
v. When the main clause describes a condition versus an action, non-deictic expressions are not used with に because they are viewed as adverbs qualifying the nature of said state of being.
None of these points, however, negate the obvious fact that に, は, には, and にも are indeed used with とき and ころ. It is just that the rate of frequency is in that order from highest to lowest. As to why that is, we need to understand how these particles are used in general.
・The Particle に
The particle に marks a non-deictic point in time. In doing so, that time designation holds a considerable level of importance to the speaker. In accordance to v., we expect the predicate of the sentence to be an action.
24. 何かミスをしたときに実はやってはいけない行動を紹介します。
(I/we) will present actions you shouldn’t take when you’ve made any mistake.
25. 車で食材を買いに行ったときに、運転中に滑ったり、中身が倒れたりして、すごく運転に気を遣ってしまうじゃないですか。
When you go buy foodstuff in your car, don’t you end up really paying attention to your driving because of how it all might all slide or fall over as your driving?
Many of the reasons for why に can be dropped with non-deictic expressions hinge on the condition that they are relatively insignificant clauses/phrases; however, with very specific instances of time, dropping に becomes unnatural.
・The Particle は
The ability of は to topicalize all sorts of things cannot be overstated. Furthermore, knowing what it can topicalize goes hand in hand with knowing how what it topicalizes in any given sentence functions.
26. 別れるときはちゃんと言葉で言ってね。
When you break up with me, put into actual words, k?
Put into actual words the moment you break up with me, k?
As for when you break up with me, put into actual words, k?
Here, we see several facets of は working in tandem. 別れるとき may be viewed as the object worthy of contrast, the topic, as well as a point in time being purposely highlighted.
Overall, は’s ability to contrast/highlight stems from its main role as a topicalizer, and all three nuances form the basis for why you would use は with とき and ころ at all in subordinate clauses, and in general.
・には
Whenever two particles are put together, each one plays a specific role, and those roles do not overlap, for if they did, only one would have been used. には allows the speaker to emphatically pinpoint a certain time in which some action occurred, whether it be their own doing or someone else.
28. ようやく置き忘れたことに気が付きましたが、取りに戻ったときには、すでに荷物はなくなっていました。
Although I had finally realized I had misplaced my luggage, when I had returned to get it, it had already disappeared.
・にも
Although very similar to には, も more or less easily translates to “even.” This makes it the most nuanced of the options.
29. 災害は、忘れない頃にもやってくる。
Disasters arrive even when you aren’t forgetting about them.
Scenario XI: ～ごろ vs ～どき
As suffixes, both ～どき and ～どき are strikingly similar to their standalone-noun forms, but they ought to be treated as separate words.
The Suffix ～ごろ
Similarly to how 頃（ころ）as a noun indicates a rough span of time, when used as a suffix (but voiced), the primary meaning of ～ごろ is to indicate an approximate time. It can be translated into English as “roughly/around/approximately in/at…”
Particle Note: The use of に, and any other particle for that matter, with the suffix ～ごろ is parallel with its noun form.
30. その後、翌日午前１時ごろ、行方不明の女性が自力で洞窟から出て無事が確認された。
Afterwards, at approximately 1 AM the next day, the missing woman got out of the cave by herself, and she was confirmed safe.
31. １０時｛ごろ・くらい｝に着きます。
I’ll arrive around 10 o’ clock.
Distinction Note: Both ～ごろ（に） and ～くらいに indicate approximate time. Traditionally, ～ごろ is deemed the most appropriate means of expressing a rough time frame. However, in the last few centuries, the particle くらい has developed to indicate approximation in a wide range of contexts. With non-deictic time phrases, it manifests as ～くらいに, and in all practicality, it is synonymous with ～ごろ7（に）in the context of time frames. However, ～くらいに is very colloquial in comparison, and it would not replace ～ごろ（に） in sentences like Ex. 30.
Aside from this meaning, ～ごろ may be seen in deictic expressions for “nowadays” like in このごろ8 and 近頃 or “recently” like in 先ごろ. As these phrases are deictic, you cannot use the temporal に with them.
32. このごろは、Youtubeの動画を見てカタルーニャ語を勉強しています。
Nowadays, I’m studying Catalan by watching Youtube videos.
33. 当店でも近頃よく売れている商品であります。
It’s a good that has been selling well nowadays even at our store.
34. ウォルマートは先ごろ、一部の店舗の売り場から銃器と弾薬を撤去していた。
Walmart in recent days has been removing guns and artillery from the counters of a portion of its stores.
Meanwhile, some phrases made with ～ごろ are in fact duration adverbs, which also do not take the temporal に.
35. 被害を最小限にするためには、日ごろ9からの備えと心構えが大切です。
To minimize damage, preparation and readiness on a daily basis are important.
You may also see ～ごろ after the 連用形 of some verbs to indicate the most opportune time to do said action.
36. 紅葉は、１２月上旬までが見ごろだそうだ。
They say that the best time to admire the autumn leaves is until first ten days of December.
37. あと１週間程度で食べごろになるだろう。
It’ll likely be perfect to eat in about another week or so.
What’s more, other compounds involving ～ごろ do not involve time phrases at all, but in such situations, it indicates reasonableness.
38. 手頃な厚さの教科書がほしいです。
I want the perfect-sized textbook.
39. 手頃な値段で買える株は「値ごろ感が強い」と言われます。
Stocks which can be bought at a reasonable price are said to have a “strong sense of affordability.”
The Suffix ～どき
The suffix ～どき appears in set compounds which indicate the best time to do something, which is similar to one of 頃’s usages, but by nature of using ～どき, the timing feels more present and urgent.
40. フライトは一時間ちょっとだが、食事どきで10スナック菓子が出た。
The flight was a little under an hour, but snacks were offered right at mealtime.
41. 今が買い時だ。
Now is the time to buy it.
42. 売り時にもう悩まない！
You won’t worry over when to sell anymore!
- なり is the Classical Japanese form of だ, which is still used in set phrases such as Ex. 1. ↩︎
- “Adnominal” refers to noun modifiers which do not constitute clauses outright but do indeed function like adjectives – including words such as この・その・あの (こそあど demonstratives) and any instance of the case particle の marking a noun as the attribute of the following noun. ↩︎
- The particle need not be restricted to case particles, as は and まで are actually adverbial particles. ↩︎
- There are rare circumstances in which the “zero-modifier” 時に may still retain the nominal function of 時 itself, thus referring to a very specific point in time, akin to saying, “precisely at that time.”
i. 時に、趙雲もまた彼方から馬を飛ばして、夏侯惇のほうへ向ってきた。
At that precise moment, Zhao Yun once more set off on horseback from afar, and headed straight to Xiahou Dun.
From 『三国志・赤壁の巻』by 吉川英治. ↩︎ - Dummy nouns are grammatical words which derive from once standalone nouns which have been stripped of their literal interpretation to serve some function. In Ex. 14, the dummy noun in question is ばかり. Although also recognized as a particle, it can still be viewed as an adverbial noun, which explains why the particle の may then follow it. ↩︎
- According to this research, とき is most favored in 節 (clauses), whereas ころ is most often used in much shorter 句 (phrases), as far as their own distributions are concerned, and this observation, at best, is understood to be within the corpus of written language used in their study. In summary, they posit that オーストラリアに行ったとき would be more common that オーストラリア旅行のとき, and that 塾に通っていたころ would be less common than 塾生のころ, but that all these combinations of phrases and clauses are still natural with either とき or ころ so long as the nuancing is ironed out properly. ↩︎
- ～ごろ may be vague, but it is only as vague as the time frame it is attached to can be rationalized at. For instance, １時１０分ごろ（に） is relatively punctual. On the other hand, １時１０分くらいに, being so colloquial, may not be so exact depending on how it is said. ↩︎
- このごろ (nowadays) is not synonymous with このころ (around this time). ↩︎
- The particle から often accompanies duration expressions which pertain to habitual/usual action, with から strongly emphasizing that every point is the starting point. ↩︎
- The use of で here indicates relatively when the action occurred as opposed to a specific point in time, which would be indicated by に. ↩︎