Structure
Verb + 折（に(1)）
［い］Adjective + 折（に(1)）
［な］Adjective + な + 折（に(1)）
Noun + の + 折（に(1)）
(1) には、は
Details
Register
Formal
About 折には
When the noun 折 'fold' or 'pleat' is used adverbially with the case marking particle に, it indicates a time which may be used as an opportunity to do something. It is often translated as 'on the occasion of (A)', or 'when the chance of (A) comes up'. It is an expression that is primarily used as a formal, positive alternative for 時に, but there are times that it may indicate something negative.
折に may be seen after any structure that could connect to a noun, but will primarily appear after verbs in their standard forms, or nouns followed by の.
Additionally, 折に may occasionally appear as 折には, but the additional は if often omitted.
In most cases, 折に will be used to indicate things that happen 'from time to time', rather than one off events.
Caution
折に appears in several common expressions that each have a slightly different meaning.
折に触れて - On the occasion of (A), always (B).
折があれば - If there is the chance of (A), (B).
折を見て - When the conditions are good for (A).
折も折 - At the exact moment of (A).
Synonyms
Examples
--:--
Get more example sentences!
Premium users get access to 12 example sentences on all Grammar Points.
メール、本社の上司に：「お暇な折にぜひ我が支店にお越しください。」
E-mail to a superior from the head office: 'Please, make sure to come to our branch when you are free.'
手紙：「新春のお支度にお忙しい折から、風邪などひかれぬようご自愛下さい。」
Letter: 'Please take care not to catch a cold at this busy time of preparations for a new year.'
お近くにいらっしゃる折には、ぜひうちにご飯を食べに来てください！
On the chance that you will be close by, you’re certainly welcome to come to my place to eat!
宴会をする折には、ぜひうちの居酒屋をご利用くださいませ！
On the occasion of having a banquet gathering, you’re certainly welcome to make use of our izakaya.
オーストラリアへ来る折には、ぜひカンガルーのお肉を食べてみてください。
At the opportunity of coming to Australia, certainly try eating kangaroo meat.
Self-Study Sentences
Study your own way!
Add sentences and study them alongside Bunpro sentences.
Online
Offline
Sou Matome Bunpou N2
Page 95
Sou Matome Bunpou N1
Page 105
A Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar
Page 502
Track Resources!
Bunpro tracks all of the resources you’ve visited, and offers relevant bookmarks of physical books to help with offline tracking.
折には – Grammar Discussion
Most Recent Replies (3 in total)
andrewkfiedler
For the question: メール、本社の上司に：「お暇____ぜひ我が支店にお越しください。」
I was thinking の +折 based on の 折 being a noun, but since it is an adjective as well it’s supposed to be な.
Is it possible both are correct? Or does the context make hima an adjective in this case?
nekoyama
Normally, only な is used.
暇 is always a na adjective since that’s a property of the word, it’s just not always used adjectivally. But in this case it is.
But in a sense, “context” also plays a role. For some reason the na adjective 暇 tends to be used with な with words like 折 or 時 and in many other cases, while the na adjective 多忙 (opposite of 暇) uses の like in ご多忙の折.
Crazywater
I keep mixing up 折に with 際に. They seem to be mostly synonymous, but Bunpro doesn’t tell me when it wants the other one, it just fails the question so when are they not interchangeable?
Got questions about 折には? Join us to discuss, ask, and learn together!
Join the Discussion