“〜ori ni furete・ori ni”: Whenever the Chance Arises / On the Occasion of [JLPT N1]
By Nihongo to Japan · Updated July 3, 2026
A written expression for a certain occasion or timing
“〜ori ni furete・ori ni”: Whenever the Chance Arises / On the Occasion of
This pair relates to occasion/timing: 折(おり)に触れて = “whenever the chance arises, often (at every opportunity)”: 「祖母は折に触れて、昔話を聞かせてくれた」 (my grandmother would tell me old stories whenever the chance arose); 〜折に(は) = “on the occasion of, when 〜” (a dignified とき): 「上京の折には、お寄りください」 (when you come to Tokyo, please drop by). Both lean written and dignified.
🧠 Core nuance: seizing the right timing / at every opportunity
The core is at a fitting time or opportunity: 折 means “(the right) time, chance.” 折に触れて stresses “whenever there's a chance (repeatedly)” (often recall, often mention); 〜折に means “on the occasion of / when 〜,” more dignified and polite than とき, common in letters and greetings (on the occasion of a visit, of returning home). Elegant in tone, with a polite distance.
📌 How to Connect
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 折に触れて | whenever the chance, often | 折に触れて思い出す |
| noun の ＋ 折に(は) | on the occasion of 〜 | 上京の折には |
| verb た/dict. ＋ 折に | when 〜 | 帰国した折に |
💬 Example Sentences
- 祖母は折に触れて、戦争の話を聞かせてくれた。(My grandmother would tell me about the war whenever the chance arose.) — whenever the chance
- 今でも折に触れて、恩師の言葉を思い出す。(Even now I often recall my mentor's words.) — often
- 上京の折には、ぜひお立ち寄りください。(When you come to Tokyo, please do drop by.) — on the occasion (letter)
- 帰国した折に、母校を訪ねてみた。(When I returned home, I visited my alma mater.) — when 〜
- お近くにお越しの折は、お声がけください。(When you're in the neighborhood, please give a shout.) — polite setting
🔄 Compare: 折に触れて vs ことあるごとに vs 〜折に vs 〜際に
| Expression | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 折に触れて | “whenever the chance, often” (written, repeated) | 折に触れて思い出す |
| ことあるごとに | “every time something comes up” (colloquial, repeated) | ことあるごとに言う |
| 〜折に(は) | “on the occasion of 〜” (dignified とき, letters) | 上京の折に |
| 〜際(さい)に | “when 〜” (formal) | 利用の際に |
⚠️ Common Mistakes
- 折に触れて as a one-off: it means “whenever the chance, often (repeatedly),” not just once.
- Noun connection: with a noun use 「noun の ＋ 折に」 (上京の折に); don't drop の.
- Casual settings: it's written and elegant; for casual speech use とき.
- Reading of 折: おり; 折に触れて = おりにふれて.
💡 Nuance & When to Use
折に触れて・折に are written, elegant timing expressions: 折に触れて is “whenever the chance arises, often (doing something repeatedly)” (often recall, often mention), understated and evocative; 〜折に(は) is “on the occasion of 〜,” a dignified, polite version of とき, common in letters and greetings (on a visit, on returning home), with a polite distance. For casual speech just use とき. Master “折に触れて (whenever) vs 折に (on the occasion).” A must at N1.
🎯 JLPT Exam Tips
- Commonly tested at N1: 折に触れて = whenever the chance, often; noun の ＋ 折に(は) = on the occasion of 〜.
- Register: written, dignified, common in letters.
- Distinction: 折に触れて (repeated) ≒ ことあるごとに; 〜折に ≒ 〜際に (dignified とき).
🖊️ 練習題（5題）
Q1. 「祖母は___、昔話を聞かせてくれた。」（每逢機會就）
(A) 折に触れて (B) 折り返して (C) 折り合って (D) 折りたたんで
Q2. 「上京の___、お寄りください。」（來東京之際）
(A) 折には (B) ところには (C) ばかりには (D) どころには
Q3. 「折に触れて思い出す」の意味は?
(A) 每逢機會就想起（時常）
(B) 從不想起
(C) 只想起一次
(D) 努力忘記
Q4. 「折に触れて」の文體は?
(A) 書面、鄭重
(B) 兒童口語
(C) 網路語
(D) 命令語
Q5. 接法が正しいのは?
(A) 帰国の折にお会いしましょう。 (B) 帰国を折に。
(C) 帰国だ折に。 (D) 折に触れてを食べる。
答案解析
1. (A) 折に触れて ── 每逢機會就講。
2. (A) 折には ── 來東京之際。
3. (A) ── 每逢機會就想起。
4. (A) ── 書面、鄭重。
5. (A) ── 「帰国の折にお会いしましょう」正確。