Translation guide
The English phrase "just when" is used to mark a moment when something happens, often with a sense of timing, surprise, or contrast. In Japanese, there is no single direct equivalent; instead, various patterns express similar ideas depending on the nuance.
To express that something occurs precisely at the same time as another event, often with a nuance of coincidence or immediacy.
Used after the past tense of a verb to indicate that right after one action, another action or change occurred, often unexpectedly. It emphasizes the immediacy and sometimes surprise.
ドアを開けたとたん、猫が飛び出した。
Just when I opened the door, the cat jumped out.
家を出たとたんに、雨が降り出した。
Just when I left the house, it started raining.
Used to express that something happens at almost the same time as another action, often with the nuance of 'hardly had... when...'. It emphasizes the near simultaneity.
彼が座るか座らないかのうちに、電話が鳴った。
Just when he sat down, the phone rang.
Literally 'just when the arrow was shot', this pattern indicates that something (often negative) happens right after an action or at a critical moment.
出かけようとした矢先に、上司から電話がかかってきた。
Just when I was about to go out, my boss called.
Used after a verb in dictionary form or 〜ている form to indicate that something happens at the very moment of that action. Often used when someone arrives or something occurs.
ちょうど出かけるところに、友達が訪ねてきた。
Just when I was about to leave, a friend came to visit.
To emphasize that something occurs during the exact time another action is in progress, often with a sense of interruption or coincidence.
Used after a verb in 〜ている form to indicate that something happens right in the middle of that action. It conveys 'just when I was doing...'.
シャワーを浴びている最中に、停電した。
Just when I was taking a shower, the power went out.
試験を受けている最中に、お腹が痛くなった。
Just when I was taking the exam, my stomach started hurting.
Similar to 〜ている最中に, but slightly more casual. It indicates that something happens at the moment of an ongoing action.
テレビを見ているところに、母が帰ってきた。
Just when I was watching TV, my mother came home.
To express that something happens at a particularly bad or ironic time, often leading to an undesirable result.
Used after the past tense of a verb to indicate that because of that action, something negative happened. It carries a nuance of 'just when I did X, Y happened (and it was bad)'.
車を買ったばかりに、事故に遭った。
Just when I bought a car, I got into an accident.
彼に本当のことを言ったばかりに、喧嘩になった。
Just when I told him the truth, we ended up fighting.
To convey that something happens contrary to what was expected, often with a sense of 'just when I thought A, B happened'.
Used after a clause ending in 〜と思った to indicate that right after thinking something, a contrasting or unexpected event occurred.
やっと晴れたと思ったら、また雨が降り出した。
Just when I thought it had finally cleared up, it started raining again.
彼が来ないと思ったら、突然現れた。
Just when I thought he wasn't coming, he suddenly appeared.
Similar to 〜と思ったら, but often used for more immediate or surprising contrasts. It can also be used for habitual contrasts.
彼女は泣いたかと思うと、急に笑い出した。
Just when she cried, she suddenly burst out laughing.
To simply state that something happened at the same time as another event, without strong nuance of surprise or immediacy.
The most basic way to say 'when'. It can be used in many contexts, but may need additional words like ちょうど (exactly) to convey 'just when'.
ちょうど出かけようとしたときに、電話が鳴った。
Just when I was about to leave, the phone rang.
〜たとたん emphasizes the immediacy and often surprise of an event occurring right after another. 〜たばかりに emphasizes that because of that action, a negative consequence occurred. The former is about timing, the latter about causality with a negative outcome.
家を出たとたん、雨が降り出した。
Just when I left the house, it started raining. (focus on timing)
家を出たばかりに、雨に濡れた。
Just because I left the house, I got wet in the rain. (focus on negative result)
There is no single Japanese word that directly translates 'just when'. Using ちょうど〜とき alone may not capture the nuance of immediacy or surprise. Choose the pattern that best fits the intended meaning.