A2 · 初级 章节 4

Talking About Time and Sequences

6 总规则
62 例句
6 分钟
本章规则 快速练习

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the flow of time and sequence to tell engaging stories in Japanese.

  • Label your weekly schedule using the elements.
  • Anchor your daily activities with precise relative time markers.
  • Connect multiple events into fluid, chronological narratives.
Master time, master the story.

你将学到什么

Hey there, language explorer! Ready to take your Japanese conversations to the next level? You've already mastered expressing actions, and now it's time to put them in order. Think of this chapter as your personal time-travel guide! We'll start by making sure you know your weekdays cold – from fiery Tuesdays to watery Wednesdays – using the fun Yōbi system. Then, you'll grab hold of crucial 'floating' time markers like 'today,' 'yesterday,' and 'tomorrow' (kyō, kinō, asu) that effortlessly anchor your conversations in the present without needing any tricky particles. But here's where it gets really exciting: you'll learn how to perfectly sequence events. Want to say 'Before eating lunch, I studied'? We've got mae ni for that! Or perhaps, 'After watching the movie, I slept'? That's where ~ato de comes in. You'll quickly see how these simple structures let you link complex ideas. We'll then introduce Toki (when/time), a versatile connector that helps you specify if something happens *before/during* an action (with Dictionary Form) or *after* it (with Ta-form). And finally, you'll discover aida (～間), the perfect tool for describing actions that happen *while* or *during* an entire period, without interruption. Imagine setting up a meeting with a Japanese colleague, or recounting your amazing travel itinerary: 'First we visited the temple, then we ate sushi.' Or simply telling a friend about your day, 'While I was cooking, I listened to music.' These are the skills that make your stories clear and your plans precise! By the end of this chapter, you won't just know words; you'll be able to effortlessly narrate sequences of events, plan your schedule, and describe durations like a pro. Get ready to add some serious temporal fluency to your Japanese toolkit. Let's dive in!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use relative time markers and sequence connectors to describe a daily routine.

章节指南

Overview

Hey there, language explorer! Ready to take your Japanese conversations to the next level? You've already mastered expressing actions, and now it's time to put them in order.
This chapter is your personal time-travel guide, unlocking the secrets of Japanese grammar A2 for talking about when things happen and in what sequence. Mastering temporal expressions is crucial for clear communication, whether you're planning your week or recounting a story. You'll learn essential building blocks like the Yōbi system for days of the week, and floating time markers such as kyō (today), kinō (yesterday), and asu (tomorrow), which effortlessly anchor your conversations without needing tricky particles.
But here's where it gets really exciting: you'll learn how to perfectly sequence events. Want to say 'Before eating lunch, I studied'? We've got mae ni for that!
Or perhaps, 'After watching the movie, I slept'? That's where ~ato de comes in. You'll quickly see how these simple structures let you link complex ideas.
We'll then introduce Toki (when/time), a versatile connector that helps you specify if something happens *before/during* an action (with Dictionary Form) or *after* it (with Ta-form). And finally, you'll discover aida (～間), the perfect tool for describing actions that happen *while* or *during* an entire period, without interruption. By the end of this chapter, you won't just know words; you'll be able to effortlessly narrate sequences of events, plan your schedule, and describe durations like a pro.
Get ready to add some serious temporal fluency to your Japanese grammar toolkit.

How This Grammar Works

Let's dive into the core of A2 Japanese temporal expressions. First, you'll master the Days of the Week: The 7 Elements (Yōbi). Each day ends with ~yōbi (曜日) and starts with a kanji representing an element or celestial body: Getsuyōbi (月曜日 - Monday, Moon), Kayōbi (火曜日 - Tuesday, Fire), Suiyōbi (水曜日 - Wednesday, Water), Mokuyōbi (木曜日 - Thursday, Wood), Kinyōbi (金曜日 - Friday, Gold), Doyōbi (土曜日 - Saturday, Earth), and Nichiyōbi (日曜日 - Sunday, Sun).
For instance, Getsuyōbi ni shigoto ga arimasu (月曜日に仕事があります - I have work on Monday).
Next, we have Japanese Relative Time: Today, Yesterday, Tomorrow (今日, 昨日, 明日). Words like kyō (今日 - today), kinō (昨日 - yesterday), and asu (明日 - tomorrow) are special. They usually don't need the particle ni (に) when used as time markers, making them very convenient.
For example, Kyō, eiga o mimasu (今日、映画を見ます - Today, I will watch a movie).
To sequence actions, we use Before Doing X (Mae ni) and Japanese Sequence: After doing X (~ato de). To say before doing X, attach mae ni (前に) to the dictionary form of a verb: Bangohan o taberu mae ni shukudai o shimashita (晩ご飯を食べる前に宿題をしました - Before eating dinner, I did my homework). For after doing X, attach ~ato de (～後で) to the ta-form of a verb: Eiga o mita ato de, neru (映画を見た後で、寝る - After watching the movie, I'll sleep).
The versatile Using Toki (When/Time) to Connect Sentences allows you to specify the timing of an action. When describing an action that happens *before or during* another, use the dictionary form + toki (時). Nihon ni iku toki, kamera o kaimasu (日本に行く時、カメラを買います - When I go to Japan, I'll buy a camera).
When describing an action that happens *after* another, use the ta-form + toki: Kodomo no toki, yoku asobimashita (子供の時、よく遊びました - When I was a child, I played a lot).
Finally, for actions that occur *while* or *during* an entire period, use Japanese Grammar: Using ～間 (aida) for 'While' and 'During'. Attach aida (間) to the dictionary form of a verb or a noun (often with no). Watashi ga ryouri o suru aida, ongaku o kikimashita (私が料理をする間、音楽を聞きました - While I was cooking, I listened to music).

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: 今日にデパートへ行きます。(Kyō ni depāto e ikimasu.)
✓ Correct: 今日デパートへ行きます。(Kyō depāto e ikimasu.)
*Explanation:* Relative time words like kyō (today), kinō (yesterday), and asu (tomorrow) generally do not require the particle ni (に) when indicating
on/at this day.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 映画を見ます後で、寝ます。(Eiga o mimasu ato de, nemasu.)
✓ Correct: 映画を見た後で、寝ます。(Eiga o mita ato de, nemasu.)
*Explanation:* When using ~ato de (～後で) to mean after doing X, the verb preceding it must be in its plain past (ta-form), not the polite present tense (masu-form).
  1. 1✗ Wrong: 勉強する間、テレビを見ました。(Benkyō suru aida, terebi o mimashita.)
✓ Correct: 勉強している間、テレビを見ました。(Benkyō shiteiru aida, terebi o mimashita.)
*Explanation:* While aida (間) can follow a dictionary form, if you want to emphasize an action *in progress* or *continuous* during that period, the ~teiru form is often more natural and accurate. The wrong example implies
during the period of studying,
while the correct one implies
while I was in the act of studying.

Real Conversations

A

A

今日の夜、何をする予定ですか？ (Kyō no yoru, nani o suru yotei desu ka?) (What are your plans for tonight?)
B

B

仕事が終わった後で、友達とご飯を食べに行きます。 (Shigoto ga owatta ato de, tomodachi to gohan o tabe ni ikimasu.) (After work finishes, I'm going to eat with friends.)
A

A

日本にいる間、どこに行きたいですか？ (Nihon ni iru aida, doko ni ikitai desu ka?) (While you're in Japan, where do you want to go?)
B

B

京都に行く前に、東京でショッピングがしたいです。 (Kyōto ni iku mae ni, Tōkyō de shoppingu ga shitai desu.) (Before going to Kyoto, I want to do some shopping in Tokyo.)
A

A

子供の時、どんな遊びが好きでしたか？ (Kodomo no toki, donna asobi ga suki deshita ka?) (What kind of games did you like when you were a child?)
B

B

外で遊ぶのが好きでした。 (Soto de asobu no ga suki deshita.) (I liked playing outside.)

Quick FAQ

Q

How do I say before and after an action in Japanese?

For before doing X, use the dictionary form of the verb followed by mae ni (前に). For after doing X, use the ta-form of the verb followed by ~ato de (～後で).

Q

What's the difference between toki and aida in Japanese grammar?

Toki (時) means when or

at the time of
and can refer to a specific point or period. Aida (間) specifically means while or during and implies a continuous action or state throughout a period.

Q

Do I need particles with today or tomorrow in Japanese?

No, typically not. Words like kyō (今日 - today), kinō (昨日 - yesterday), and asu (明日 - tomorrow) usually act as adverbs and do not require particles like ni (に) when indicating when something happens.

Q

Can I use ~ato de with nouns?

Yes, you can! When using ~ato de (～後で) with a noun, you simply add no (の) between the noun and ato de. For example, shigoto no ato de (仕事の後で - after work).

Cultural Context

In Japanese communication, precision about time and sequence is highly valued, especially in professional settings or when making plans. Using these grammar patterns correctly demonstrates respect for others' schedules and ensures clarity. The Yōbi system is fundamental, and you'll hear it daily.
While directness is common, polite language often accompanies these time expressions, ensuring smooth social interactions. Mastering these temporal expressions will significantly enhance your ability to participate in daily conversations and plan effectively.

关键例句 (6)

1

Neru mae ni, sumaho o juuden shimasu.

睡觉前我会给手机充电。

在做X之前 (Mae ni)
2

Eiga o miru mae ni, poppukoon o kaimashita.

看电影之前我买了爆米花。

在做X之前 (Mae ni)
3

Bangohan o tabeta ato de, geemu o shimashou.

吃完晚饭后，我们玩游戏吧。

日语顺序：做完X“之后” (～ato de)
4

Shigoto no ato de, nomi ni ikanai?

下班后要去喝一杯吗？

日语顺序：做完X“之后” (～ato de)
5

Hima na toki, Nettofurikkusu o mimasu.

有空的时候，我会看 Netflix。

使用 Toki ({時|とき}) 连接句子（……的时候）
6

Ie o deru toki, kagi o sagashimashita.

出门的时候（还没踏出家门），我找了钥匙。

使用 Toki ({時|とき}) 连接句子（……的时候）

技巧与窍门 (4)

🎯

日历缩写

在日本的日历或时刻表上，星期通常只显示括号里的一个汉字：«({月})»、«({火})»、«({水})»。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 日语星期表达：七曜与元素 (Yōbi)
⚠️

千万别加助词 'Ni'

这是初学者最容易犯的错，像“今日”这类词作时间标记时绝对不加“に”。比如：“明日（あした）、行（い）きます。”
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 日语相对时间：今天、昨天、明天 (今日, 昨日, 明日)
⚠️

时态小陷阱

千万不要在 «前に» 前面用过去式（た形）。在日语里，说 «食べた前に» 听起来就像在说“我走了了”，非常别扭。一定要说 «食べる前に»。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 在做X之前 (Mae ni)
🎯

口语中可以省掉“で”

和朋友聊天时，你可以直接说 «ご飯の後» 而不加 «で»。这样听起来更自然、更利落。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 日语顺序：做完X“之后” (～ato de)

核心词汇 (6)

月曜日(げつようび) Monday 今日(きょう) Today 食べる(たべる) to eat 映画(えいが) movie 時(とき) time/when 勉強(べんきょう) study

Real-World Preview

coffee

Making Weekend Plans

Review Summary

  • Day + 曜日(ようび)
  • 今日/昨日/明日
  • Verb (Dict) + 前(まえ)に
  • Verb (Ta) + 後(あと)で
  • Verb (Dict/Ta) + 時(とき)
  • Verb (Dict) + 間(あいだ)

常见错误

You must use the dictionary form (present) for 'before' clauses, not the past tense.

Wrong: 食(た)べた前(まえ)に
正确: 食(た)べる前(まえ)に

You must use the Ta-form (past) for 'after' clauses because the action must be completed first.

Wrong: 食(た)べる後(あと)で
正确: 食(た)べた後(あと)で

Time words like 'tomorrow' do not take the particle 'ni' because they are relative, not fixed points.

Wrong: 明日(あした)に映画(えいが)を見(み)ます
正确: 明日(あした)映画(えいが)を見(み)ます

本章规则 (6)

1

日语星期表达：七曜与元素 (Yōbi)

A2
记好“火、水、木、金、土”这些自然元素，后面接上 «曜日» 就能搞定所有星期啦！
Nichiyōbi ni kaimono ni ikimasu.
10 例句
2

日语相对时间：今天、昨天、明天 (今日, 昨日, 明日)

A2
这些时间词就像“漂浮”的标签，不需要加助词 «に»，直接放在句首就能定下全句的时态基调。
Kyō wa shigoto ni ikimasen.
10 例句
3

在做X之前 (Mae ni)

A2
记住，在 «前に» 前面的动词永远要用 «辞书形»（原形），哪怕你是在讲过去的故事！
Neru mae ni, sumaho o juuden shimasu.
10 例句
4

日语顺序：做完X“之后” (～ato de)

A2
记住：在 «後で» 前面，动词永远要用过去式 «た形»，名词则要加 «の»。掌握这个，你的表达会更有条理！
Bangohan o tabeta ato de, geemu o shimashou.
10 例句
5

使用 Toki ({時|とき}) 连接句子（……的时候）

A2
用“字典形”表示动作还没完成，用“た形”表示动作已经结束。记住 «时机»、«状态» 和 «动作先后» 这几个关键词。
Hima na toki, Nettofurikkusu o mimasu.
10 例句
6

日语语法：使用 ～間 (aida) 表示“在……期间一直”

A2
当你想要表达某个动作“贯穿”了整个时间段，中间没有停过，就用 «間» (aida)。记住它的好搭档是 «ずっと» (zutto)。
私が寝ている間、猫はずっと私の足の上にいた。
12 例句

Next Steps

You've conquered the clock! Keep practicing these sequences, and you'll be telling stories in Japanese in no time.

Write a 5-sentence diary entry about yesterday.

Continue to: Desires, Intentions, and Mannerisms

快速练习 (10)

找出关于“后天”这句话中的错误并修正。

Find and fix the mistake:

{明後日|あさって}に、{日本|にっぽん}に{行きます|いきます}。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {明後日|あさって}、{日本|にっぽん}に{行きます|いきます}。
你应该删掉“asatte”后面的助词“ni”。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 日语相对时间：今天、昨天、明天 (今日, 昨日, 明日)

在空格处填入正确的助词。

{食事|しょくじ}___前に、手を合わせてください。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: の
因为 {食事|しょくじ}（用餐）是一个名词，连接 «前に» 时必须使用助词 «の»。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 在做X之前 (Mae ni)

找出并修正句子中的错误。

Find and fix the mistake:

{母|はは}が{買|か}い{物|もの}している{間|あいだ}、{弟|おとうと}が{泣|な}いた。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {母|はは}加{買|か}い{物|もの}している{間|あいだ}、{弟|おとうと}はずっと{泣|な}いていた。
要使用 aida（持续时间），第二个动作也必须是持续状态，通常用 ~te ita 和 zutto。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 日语语法：使用 ～間 (aida) 表示“在……期间一直”

选择语法正确的句子。

哪句话的意思是“我吃饭前洗了手”？

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {食べる|たべる}前に、手を{洗いました|あらいました}。
连接 «前に» 的动词必须永远使用原形（辞书形），即使主句是过去时。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 在做X之前 (Mae ni)

找出句子中的错误。

{出かけた|でかけた}前に、シャワーを浴びました。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {出かけた|でかけた} 应该改为 {出かける|でかける}
在 «前に» 之前绝对不能用过去式（た形），必须用原形。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 在做X之前 (Mae ni)

找出句子中的错误

Find and fix the mistake:

{映画|えいが}を{見る|みる}{後で|あとで}、カフェに{行きましょう|いきましょう}。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 将 {見る|みる} 改为 {見た|みた}
你不能在 'ato de' 前面使用辞书形 'miru'。必须使用 'た形' 的 'mita'。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 日语顺序：做完X“之后” (～ato de)

哪个句子在语法上是正确的？

选择表达“会议之后”的正确方式。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {会議|かいぎ}の{後で|あとで} (Kaigi no ato de)
将名词连接到 'ato de' 时，必须使用助词 'no'。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 日语顺序：做完X“之后” (～ato de)

找出汉字错误。

周二是 {木曜日}。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: 周二是 {火曜日}。
{木曜日} 是周四（木）。周二是火 ({火曜日})。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 日语星期表达：七曜与元素 (Yōbi)

用正确的动词形式填空

{宿題|しゅくだい}を ___ {後で|あとで}、テレビを{見ます|みます}。 (做完作业后，我要看电视。)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: {した|shita}
在 'ato de' 之前必须使用 'た形'（过去式），即使是未来的事情。'Suru' 变成 'Shita'。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 日语顺序：做完X“之后” (～ato de)

在括号中填入动词的正确形式。

{日本|にほん}に (いる) ______ 、ずっと{東京|とうきょう}に{住|出}んでいました。

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: いる间
因为住在东京这个动作贯穿了在日本的“整个”期间，所以选 aida。动词用字典形。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 日语语法：使用 ～間 (aida) 表示“在……期间一直”

Score: /10

常见问题 (6)

如果你只说 Getsu 或 Ka，别人能听懂，但听起来非常随意甚至有些粗鲁。«月曜日と言いましょう。»
其实和英语的起源一样！都是源自古代占星术，将第一天命名为太阳之日。«日曜日はSun Dayです。»
不需要哦！像“今日”这样的相对时间词通常不加“に”。直接说“{今日|きょう}、{行きます|いきます}”就很自然。
“Ashita”是日常生活中最常用的。而“Asu”比较正式，常出现在天气预报或正式演讲中。
在日语中，从句的时态通常由主句决定。«前に» 前面的动词只是在给这个动作“贴标签”，所以统一用原形。比如：«食べる前に、手を洗った»。
很少见。我们通常不说“在变热之前”，而会用 «~うちに» 表示趁着还没热。«前に» 主要用于动作和事件。
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