Translation guide
Expresses the idea of 'at that moment' in Japanese, focusing on the exact point in time when something happened or changed. The most common and natural way is to use その時 (sono toki), but other options exist for more specific nuances like suddenness or simultaneity.
To refer to a particular moment in the past or future when something occurred or will occur.
The most common and versatile way to say 'at that moment'. It can be used for both past and future events, and in both spoken and written Japanese.
At that moment, the phone rang.
At that time, I was still a child.
Emphasizes a very brief, instantaneous moment. Often used for dramatic or sudden events.
At that moment, everything changed.
Used when referring to a specific point in a process or timeline, often in more formal or analytical contexts. It can mean 'at that point in time'.
At that moment, the problem had not yet surfaced.
Adds emphasis on the exact timing, similar to 'just at that moment' or 'right then'.
Just at that moment, he came in.
To express that two events occurred at exactly the same time, often with a sense of immediacy.
Used after the past tense of a verb to mean 'the moment (something) happened'. The に is often omitted in casual speech.
The moment I saw him, I fell in love. (At that moment, I fell in love.)
Means 'at the same time as'. It can be used with nouns or verbs in dictionary form.
While その瞬間 (sono shunkan) is a direct translation of 'at that moment', it emphasizes a very brief, dramatic instant. In many everyday situations, その時 (sono toki) is more natural and less theatrical.
At the moment the door opened, the cat jumped out.