English puts “when” at the front of a clause. Japanese puts とき (“time”) at the end of one: 子供のとき (when I was a kid), 食べるとき (when eating) — literally “the time that ___.” The tense right before とき shifts the meaning, so keep an eye on it.
Today's words
回る
to turn; to rotate
遅れる
to be late; to be delayed
予定
plans; arrangement
恥ずかしい
embarrassing; embarrassed
銀行
bank; banking institution
質問
question; inquiry
計画
plan; project
気分
feeling; mood
Write today's kanji — tap to replay
回
遅
予
定
恥
銀
行
質
See it in real sentences
９時には行けません。
I'm afraid I can't make a nine o'clock appointment.
１１時になっているよ。
It is already eleven.
いつも９時には寝ます。
I regularly go to bed at nine.
その時、私、まだ起きていたよ。
At that time, I was still awake.
お風呂に入っているとき、電話がなった。
When I was taking a bath, the telephone rang.
１０時には先約があります。
I have a previous engagement at ten.
Practice
Spaced review — recall from earlier days (tap to flip)
market
市
1d ago
(United States of) America
アメリカ
1d ago
to sing
歌う
3d ago
tea (esp. green or barley)
お茶
3d ago
red
赤い
7d ago
to meet
あう
7d ago
Recall
Which word means “feeling”?
Which word means “bank”?
Which word means “embarrassing”?
Which word means “to be late”?
Listen and choose
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
What did you hear?
Your turn — say it, then check
Say: “I'm afraid I can't make a nine o'clock appointment.”
９時には行けません。
Say: “It is already eleven.”
１１時になっているよ。
👀 Today’s input · ~15 min — where fluency actually comes from
Real-world Japanese
NHK News Web Easy is now within reach — simplified news with furigana *and* audio, so you can read and listen at the same time. Do one short article a day; hover past what you don’t know.