JLPT N1CourteousLetters and polite speech

折おりに・折おりにはwhen; on the occasion that

A courteous "when" for letters and polite speech: when you next visit, when we met last year. With friends it is とき.

次つぎに東とう京きょうへいらっしゃる折おりには、ぜひ研けん究きゅう室しつへお立たち寄よりください。

The next time you come to Tokyo, please do stop by the lab.

昨さく年ねん、京きょう都とでお目めにかかった折おりに、貴き重ちょうなお話はなしを伺うかがいました。

When I met you in Kyoto last year, you told me some very valuable things.

How to form it

Noun + の + 折（に）／plain verb + 折（に）

The verb is in the dictionary form or the た-form, chosen as before とき. Adjectives join it as they join any noun: お忙いそがしい折おり. 折おりには usually leads into an invitation, a request or a promise.

Before it: A visit, a meeting, a trip, usually in respectful words: お越こしの折おり, 上じょう京きょうの折おり, お目めにかかった折おり. Or the season, or how busy the other person is: 寒さむさ厳きびしい折おり, ご多た忙ぼうの折おり.
After it: An invitation, a request or a promise for that time. For a past occasion, what you remember or are grateful for.
Where you'll meet it: Letters, cards, formal email, speeches, polite talk with someone you look up to.

In use

次じ回かいお越こしの折おりには、私わたしが館かん内ないをご案あん内ないいたします。

The next time you visit, I will show you around the building myself.

前ぜん任にん地ちに赴ふ任にんした折おりに、多おおくの方かた々がたから温あたたかいご支し援えんをいただきました。

When I took up my previous post, I received warm support from a great many people.

ご多た忙ぼうの折おりに、迅じん速そくにご回かい答とういただきありがとうございました。

Thank you for replying so promptly at such a busy time.

寒さむさ厳きびしい折おり、どうぞご自じ愛あいください。

In this bitter cold, please take good care of yourself.

How a winter letter closes. In a line like this 折おり stands alone.

Two things to know

It is とき for someone you look up to

A friend says とき. 折おり keeps company with respectful words, so the rest of the sentence is polite to match.

近ちかくに来きたときは、寄よってね。

Drop by when you're in the neighborhood.

To a friend.

お近ちかくにお越こしの折おりには、ぜひお立たち寄よりください。

If you are ever in the area, please do drop in.

On a card announcing a move.

Two to learn whole

折おりを見みてwhen a good moment comes

折おりを見みて、部ぶ長ちょうに相そう談だんしてみます。

I'll talk to the department head about it when the moment is right.

Ordinary speech, not only letters.

折おりに触ふれてwhenever the occasion arises

祖そ母ぼは折おりに触ふれて、昔むかしの話はなしをしてくれた。

My grandmother would tell me stories of the old days whenever the occasion arose.

Close neighbours

際（に）N2

The formal とき of notices, announcements and service language, for any occasion. 折おり is the gentler word, at home in a letter or a greeting rather than on a notice.

ご入にゅう館かんの際さいは、この券けんを係かかり員いんにお見みせください。

When you enter the building, please show this ticket to a staff member.

ときN5

The everyday word, in casual and polite conversation alike.

寝ねるとき、電でん気きを消けしてください。

Please turn off the light when you go to bed.

Check yourself

1Which would you send to a friend?

Choose an answer to see why.

2What will this person do?

折おりを見みて、両りょう親しんに話はなすつもりです。

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

折おり is a noun, "an occasion", so その折おりは is "on that occasion".

その折おりは大たい変へんお世せ話わになりました。

Thank you for all your help on that occasion.

More sentences

お忙いそがしい折おりにご対たい応おういただき、誠まことにありがとうございました。

Thank you very much for dealing with this at such a busy time.