The Meaning of touji [当時] In Japanese

当時
とうじ
Romaji: touji N4

What does 当時 mean?

Translation and Meaning

that time, the time in question, then

Definition

当時 means ‘that time’ or ‘the time in question’ and is used to anchor statements to a past moment in narrative, history, or reporting. It designates the temporal context relative to the speaker or events being described and often marks a contrast with later developments or the present.

Type

Noun, with adverbial use (副詞的用法)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • References a past time point relative to the speaker or context
  • Indicates a historical period or era relevant to a narrative or description
  • Often used to set the temporal frame in writing, reporting, and formal speech

Origin

Classical and early modern Japanese usage; it has long appeared in literary and documentary prose to designate the specific past moment around described events.

Composition

  • 当: here, this; to face; proximate to the topic; used to anchor reference to the current context
  • 時: time, hour
  • The combination conveys the idea of ‘that time’ as a specific past moment in discourse

Usage

Used to anchor statements to a past moment; can begin a sentence or appear mid-sentence; formal and written contexts predominate, including literature, journalism, and academic writing. It often appears in patterns like 当時は… or 当時の…, describing conditions, attitudes, or facts at that time; in casual speech, its usage is less frequent.
💡 Tips
Visualize a clock set to the exact moment you are recounting; when you say that time, the clock is aligned with 当時 to anchor your scene.

Variations

  • その頃 (sono koro) — that time
  • かつて (katsute) — formerly
  • 昔 (mukashi) — in the past, long ago
  • 現在/今 (genzai/ima) — present time; antonym

Example Phrases

  • 当時 の 友達 との 写真 が 今 も 温かい。
    touji no tomodachi tono shashin ga ima mo atatakai.
    The photos with my friends from back then still feel warm.
    Lista:
    • 当時 (touji) – at that time
    • の (no) – of
    • 友達 (tomodachi) – friends
    • との (tono) – with
    • 写真 (shashin) – photograph
    • が (ga) – [subject marker]
    • 今 (ima) – now
    • も (mo) – also
    • 温かい (atatakai) – warm
    Uses 「当時」 as a temporal noun meaning ‘that time’; here it modifies 「友達との写真」 to mean photos with friends from that time.
当時