Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 4: 5/18

際(さい)にWhen, At the time of, In case of, On the occasion of

Structure

Verb［た］+ 際(さい)(に)(1)
Noun + の + 際(さい)(に)

(1) Verb［る］

Details

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    Formal

About 際に

際(さい) is a noun in Japanese that means 'verge'. This is as in 'to be on the verge', and translates mostly as 'on the occasion of (A)', 'at the time of (A)', 'in case of (A)', or 'when (A)'. In the same way as 'verge' in English, it implies a fairly big or somehow important event, and will not be used with standard occurrences.

際(さい)に will appear after verbs in either their dictionary or past-tense forms, and after nouns. In the case of nouns, it will be preceded by の.

While (A) is likely to be a temporary or one-off event, 際(さい)に is not limited to one-off situations. It may also appear with regularly occurring events, but the way of reacting to that event may change depending on some one-off circumstances.

Caution

Although 際(さい)に and 時(とき)に may overlap in certain situations, 際(さい)に will sound unnatural when the situation involves something that typically does not change, or always happens the same way.

Related

Examples

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    炎天下(えんてんか)で働(はたら)く際(さい)には帽子(ぼうし)などを持(も)ってきてください。

    When working under the scorching sun, remember to bring things like a hat.

    休講(きゅうこう)の際(さい)には連絡(れんらく)しますから、ちゃんと授業(じゅぎょう)に出(で)てください。

    Since I will contact you when the lecture is canceled, please properly show up for class.

    稽古(けいこ)の際(さい)に教(おそ)わったことを本番(ほんばん)でどこまで発揮(はっき)できるかが問題(もんだい)だ。

    The issue is to what extent you can demonstrate what you were taught when training at an actual performance.

    警備(けいび)の際(さい)に注意(ちゅうい)してほしいことを書(か)き出(だ)しておきましたので、確認(かくにん)してください。

    Since I wrote out the things I want you to be careful of when on guard, please verify it.

    血圧(けつあつ)を測(はか)る際(さい)には、できるだけ平常(へいじょう)心(しん)でいたほうがいい。

    It would be best to have as much presence of mind as possible on the occasion of having your blood pressure measured.

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